Daily Trust - the online edition

Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar, NLC President

The leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) made the joint demand at this year’s May Day rally in Abuja.

NLC President Comrade Abdulwahed Ibrahim Omar said it is time to demand for salary increases in view of the unbearable cost of living in Nigeria occasioned by high cost of foodstuff, goods and services.

He said, "We will approach governments to open up negotiations on a review of existing wages and conditions. As we speak, political office-holders are earning enhanced salaries and allowances. Salaries of political office-holders have been increased on two previous occasions, while salaries of workers have remained the same. There is now a moral imperative for a wage review, otherwise the situation will remain as our veterans used to describe it - monkey de work, baboon de chop."

Comrade Omar also said government needs to take urgent steps to prevent mass hunger in the country in view of the unfolding food crisis across the world. He said, "With the rains and planting season now with us, deliberate intervention by governments at all levels need to be initiated to ensure adequate planting and adequate supply of inputs to farmers at reasonable and affordable costs. Innovative ways must be found to encourage farmers to increase acreage under cultivation."

He also said "the reported ban being placed on food exports by many countries should serve as a critical lesson to Nigeria. We now have to take food sufficiency and food security as a serious challenge. Nigeria has abundant natural agricultural resources to ensure self-sufficiency in food and cash crops production. We have what it takes to grow our rice requirements, rather than expend nearly one billion dollars on rice imports from Thailand. We call on this administration to pursue a transformative agricultural policy that will address the short-term food crisis and pave the way for self-sufficiency in food production."

On his part, President-General of TUC Comrade Peter Esele said government must declare a state of emergency in the agricultural sector. He also said government should go into public-private partnership in order to boost local production of rice and other foodstuff.

Ay yesterday’s May Day rally in Abuja, President Umaru Musa Yar’adua urged workers in the country to support government’s various reform programmes aimed at making Nigeria an egalitarian society anchored on social justice, due process and rule of law. 

Yar’adua, who was represented by Minister of Labour Dr. Hassan M. Lawal, said no government programme, however laudable it may be, can succeed if workers do not believe in it. He said, "Labour should partner with government to ensure the emergence of a nation that cares for her people. It is only in doing so that government efforts in ensuring promotion of democracy, good governance, sustainable growth and social justice can be driven to a logical conclusion." He said trade unions must accept responsibilities along with the government to create an egalitarian Nigeria that the citizens will be proud of.  

In his speech at the occasion, President-General of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Nigeria Comrade Peter Esele expressed dismay that Nigerian workers and indeed the populace are living in very deplorable conditions despite the enormous resources the country is endowed with. 

He said, "The economic situation in the country is nothing to write home about. Most factories in the country are still operating at below capacity while the influx of foreign goods is killing our industries. It is sad to note that nothing is presently working in the country and Nigerian workers are at the receiving end. We are a nation at a cross-road where infrastructure is experiencing decay, coupled with indiscipline, high rate of corruption, misplaced priorities and bad leadership."

	1. 02-05-2008 12:37
	Have a Rethink It is good to fight for one's right, but as a leader, do you only think of yourself or the generality of the led. I wouldn't know if this paper refused to capture the NLC leader's report in detail, I noticed he did not mention his former colleagues in the civil service that were rationalised due to one reason or the other that over a year now, they have not been paid their terminal benefits. At the end of the month, you are hopeful of an income, though, still complaining, what about those that have stayed for over a year? It is not too late for you to cry on their behalf, because the labor union is the only medium through which their plight would be heard. Please, do something. Thank you. Guest

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	2. 02-05-2008 09:31
	Engr. A beg Fed. Govt. we are tired of going thru this kind of pains in our country Naija, especially now that cost of rice has gone up, other food staple too. How long do we continue to suffer this humuliation when a Govt that promised heaven and earth that we are going to encounter fair economy. Where is the promise!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We are dying, nothing is working for us, no light, no good potable water, then what are we living for. Even during the military, situation has not gotten bad this way, what is happening, can someone tell us?????? The rich are getting richer, the poor are getting poorer. We have been blessed by God with virtually all necessary resources, yet we are being exploited to the detriment of few who exploit the many masses of this country. God will surely visit this people in no distant future. God come to our aid, our leaders have failed us woefully, they are not feeling what we are going thru becos they are miling the masses whom are supposed to benefit from these blessings you have given to your children. We do trust in you and definitely our trust is in you, we will lack nothing. Our leaders listen to the voice of the people before it is too late. To be warned is to be harmed> Guest

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