THE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Thursday called on governments at all levels to prioritise human and social security as the fulcrum of sustainable peace and progress.
In a press release signed by Comrade Ayuba Wabba, its President, to mark Eid-el-Fitr celebration, the NLC is also demanding the payment of the new national minimum wage from states yet to pay while also asking those massively sacking workers to stop as that will fuel insecurity and instability.
“We demand that State Governors still hesitant to pay the National Minimum Wage and Governors sacking and retrenching workers should stop constructing the ecosystem for insecurity and instability. Enough is enough! In the same vein, we reject and condemn recent statements on plans to slash workers’ salaries. That would be antithetical to the spirit of Eid-al-fitr. At this time, Nigerian workers deserve and demand an increase in salaries;” Comrade Wabba said.
Comrade Wabba noted that in line with its position at the National Summit on Peace and Security held recently in Abuja, the NLC is still repeating its call on the federal government to take the crisis of insecurity in the country more seriously by ensuring serious oversight over security votes and appropriations in Nigeria.
Wabba added that a “good fight against insecurity must be founded on accountability given the need to mobilize public confidence, goodwill and commitment in breaking the backbone of those bent on imposing a state of anarchy on Nigeria.”
Read the full statement below:
THE NIGERIA LABOUR CONGRESS WISHES NIGERIAN WORKERS AND PEOPLE A FULFILLING EID-AL-FITR
A PRESS RELEASE
The Nigeria Labour Congress joins millions of our comrades in the Muslim Ummah to commemorate this year’s Eid-al-fitr. We felicitate and congratulate the Nigerian Muslim community for successfully concluding the spiritual exercise of fasting and prayers in the holy month of Ramadan. As the world recovers from the impact of COVID-19, our Muslim brothers and sisters kept the faith and fulfilled the obligations associated with the Holy month of Ramadan. Certainly, the reward of the faithful will bring fulfilment for your efforts and sacrifice.
Eid-al-fitr is one of the most important events in the life of every Muslim as it exemplifies the noblest virtues taught by Islam. Eid-al-fitr embodies the virtues of denial, dedication, discipline, diligence, love and sharing. Eid-al-fitr is also a time Muslims use to assess their standing with Allah and with fellow humans as part of spiritual renewal. I congratulate the Muslim Ummah for making the most and best use of the Ramadan period to consolidate strength and improve on weaknesses.
This year’s Eid-al-fitr takes place at a time that our dear country is plagued by the fiery storms of insecurity, economic recession and social setbacks with very grievous consequences for Nigerian workers. At the recent 2nd NLC National Summit on Peace and Security, Nigerians from all walks of life and professional calling were unanimous in their assessment of the security crisis in Nigeria that something drastic must be done to stem this evil tide before it consumes all of us. We take faith in the prayers of the Muslim Ummah during this Ramadan that the siege of insecurity in Nigeria will be a thing of the past very soon.
Eid-al-fitr speaks of love and sacrifice. We must be prepared to make the needed sacrifice to rid our country of the expanding wave of violence in every part of Nigeria. We must hear something, see something, say something and do something with every sense of love and patriotism in order to reclaim our dear motherland from the cataclysmic periphery that the enemies of Nigeria want us fall headlong into.
We use this season of the conclusion of Ramadan to remember and salute members of our Armed Forces – the military, the police, the para-military agencies and the intelligence community – for their sacrifice, courage and commitment in the fight against terrorism and other forms of violent crimes. Many of them have paid the supreme price in this fight. We pray for the repose of the souls of all the faithful departed and for God to grant comfort to the families our slain security operatives left behind. We also use this occasion to urge our security operatives not to relent. To whom much is committed, much is also expected!
As we canvassed during the recently held National Summit on Peace and Security, we urge the Federal Government to take the crisis of insecurity in the country more seriously. We call for serious oversight over security votes and appropriations in Nigeria. A good fight against insecurity must be founded on accountability given the need to mobilize public confidence, goodwill and commitment in breaking the backbone of those bent on imposing a state of anarchy on Nigeria.
We call on government to prioritize human and social security as the fulcrum of sustainable peace and progress. We demand that State Governors still hesitant to pay the National Minimum Wage and Governors sacking and retrenching workers should stop constructing the ecosystem for insecurity and instability. Enough is enough! In the same vein, we reject and condemn recent statements on plans to slash workers’ salaries. That would be antithetical to the spirit of Eid-al-fitr. At this time, Nigerian workers deserve and demand an increase in salaries.
Last Eid, we were almost overwhelmed by the ravaging pangs of the novel corona virus pandemic and there seemed to be no help in sight. We are grateful that our prayers are answered and there are now vaccines against the virus. I urge every Nigerian particularly workers to take advantage of the vaccine in order to keep the virus at bay.
Once again, we extend our best wishes for a fulfilling Eid-al-fitr to the Muslim Ummah, Nigerian workers and the good people of Nigeria.
May Allah’s blessings be multiplied on us and may our supplications during this holy month of Ramadan bring an end to the siege of insecurity, violence and chaos in Nigeria. May the days and years ahead of us produce better outcomes for Nigerian workers and people.
HAPPY EID!
Comrade Ayuba Wabba, mni
President
12th May 2021
