The Deputy President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), lssa Aremu, has praised President Muhammadu Buhari for the bail out of wage-debtor states.
Aremu who gave the commendation when he spoke with newsmen in llorin on Sunday, said the gesture had singled Buhari out as a labour-sensitive President.
He also commended the President for rejecting the N400 million cars at a time the country was drawing on reserves to meet basic needs.
Aremu noted that the nation needed comprehensive, systemic waste reduction programmes beyond the exemplary gestures of the president.
“Regrettably, notwithstanding the appreciated presidential gesture, thousands of workers still observed the concluded Sallah without full pay.
“For many workers, it was sacrifice before Ramadan and continuation of deprivation after Ramadan.
“This is unacceptable. Debt-owing governors of employers should pay up or face the wrath of workers everywhere,” he said.
He urged the president to ensure that bailed out state governors signed performance/service delivery bonds with firm commitment to use the money for the purpose for which it was provided.
He congratulated Nigerian workers on the successful observance of Eid-el-Fitr and the state governors and employers who paid their workers’ monthly salaries to celebrate the Sallah.
Aremu pointed out that delays and non-payment of salaries had deepened the worsening poverty in the country.
“Working poor have been turned to working beggars. Nigerians cannot guarantee productivity and prosperity with this level of deprivation and poverty of the workers.
“Governments at all levels should immediately initiate sustainable policies to reduce the current worsening poverty.”
He noted that if the situation was not tackled, it could lead to mass uprising capable of undermining the Nigerian nascent democracy.
“Unpaid workers are hungry workers. Hungry workers are angry workers. With already frustrated millions of the unemployed, and insurgency fuelled by suicidal desperately poor, Nigeria risks mass national revolt if nothing is done,” he said.
He felicitated with the progressive world on the occasion of Mandela Day 2015.
Aremu noted that the UN, which Nigeria subscribes, to encourages people to devote 67 minutes to helping others through one minute of charitable work for every year.
He said Mandela was devoted to humanitarian service, stating that Nigerian leaders needed more than 67 minutes to reflect on how to replace existing corruption agenda with development agenda.
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