TUC Vows To Fight On, NLC Decries State Of Economy

The President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Mr Bobboi Kaigama, on Tuesday in Abuja said the congress would continue to fight for improved living conditions for the Nigerian citizenry.

This is contained in a statement issued by the congress in reaction to Nigeria’s 53rd Independence Day anniversary.

“We shall not faint in our struggle towards leading Nigeria back to the path of development. We shall continue to interrogate them on their policies.

“We shall continue to query each and every one of their actions and analyse the motives behind every one of their moves at all levels.

“We must gird our loins and put an end to further plundering of our national resources,” Kaigama said.

He called on the Federal Government to come up with policies that would inspire the private sector to do more for the growth of the nation’s economy.

“The private sector, which is expected to drive the process of economic development and growth, is weak, choosy and rabidly profit-oriented.

“It cannot guarantee shared prosperity among Nigerians,” the TUC president said.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Mr Abdulwaheed Omar, in his reaction said the economy was not as well as it should.

“In spite of figures justifying economic growth, unemployment rates have more than quadrupled in recent years, making not a few to conclude that the country has never had it so bad.

“Our founding fathers had a vision at Independence on Oct. 1, 1960 which clearly went beyond ceremonial or flag independence.

“Their vision encapsulated a productive economy, socio-economic justice and peaceful co-existence of which every Nigerian should be proud,” Omar said in a statement also.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that President Goodluck Jonathan in his independence anniversary address to the nation had said Nigeria had made progress since independence.

“In our journey to greatness as a nation, we have built an economy that is robust and erected enduring infrastructure and institutions of democracy.

“Our social system is now more inclusive, open and compassionate. We are waging a steady battle against poverty, unemployment, and corruption.

“Our sense of community, solidarity and shared expectation is strong and capable of withstanding the present social, economic and political challenges that still confront us,” Jonathan had said.