As the world marks this year’s Workers Day, the National chairman of Labour Party, Barrister Julius Abure has called on Nigerian workers to reject labour leaders who are known to be pro-establishment and who could not fight for their interests.
In his congratulatory message to Nierian Workers on this year’s May Day Celebration, Barr Abure also urged the Federal Government to work towards ending the rising tide of crime and criminality in Nigeria by engaging the youths through meaningful employment.
Barrister Abure said, “The contradiction in the plight of workers in Nigeria is the bourgeoisie-lization of workers leadership thus leaving the working people with no proactive, vibrant and result oriented leadership to fight for their interest.
“We therefore seize the opportunity of this occasion to call on the workers to be vigilant and avail themselves the opportunity to vote for credible leadership whenever they have the opportunity to do so at their various unions. They must bring leaders on board who will be selfless, dedicated and passionate about their welfare. They must identify leaders like PA Imoudu, Hassan Sumonu, Pascal Bafyau and many others and bring them to leadership positions.”
He also said President Buhari must rise to the occasion and rescue Nigeria from imminent collapse. “President Mohammedu Buhari must aggregate his ideas, rise beyond partisan and other primordial affinities and accept useful, innovative and ideas to save the country.
“The Government must confront: the high rate of youth unemployment. Labour Party believes that the high rate of crime and criminality are bye products of unemployment, hunger and poverty. The Government must address the issues of economic growth and development by reposition the economy for recovery.
“Finally, we are hopeful that Nigeria will rise again and realize the hopes and aspirations of its founding fathers.”
The Labour Party leader who said the general insecurity across the length and breath of the country has taken its toll on the workers and the citizens also pointed out that, “high rate of inflation have put a deep hole in the pockets of workers and has rendered the thirty thousand minimum wage nugatory.
“In spite of this, some State Governors and employers of Labour are yet to pay the minimum wage. The total take home pay of workers cannot take them home in the face of the inflationary trends in the country. The paradox of the Nigerian workers is that they create the wealth and are left out in the sharing of the wealth created by them. Thus the average Nigerian worker is poor, pauperized and dehumanized. Most workers cannot boast of a befitting building at the end of their meritorious services to the nation.”