Nigerians must be prepared to make sacrifices necessary to rid the country of the expanding wave of violence and insecurity across the country, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has said.
The charge was contained in the goodwill message by the NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, to workers as Muslim faithfuls around the world celebrate this year’s Eid-al-fitr.
Reviewing the country’s current socio-economic climate, Wabba noted that this year’s Eid-al-fitr was being celebrated at a time Nigeria was “plagued by the fiery storms of insecurity, economic recession and social setbacks with very grievous consequences for Nigerian workers.”
Recalling the resolution at the recent 2nd NLC National Summit on Peace and Security, the Labour leader said Nigerians from all walks of life and professional calling were unanimous in their assessment of the security crisis in Nigeria and the need for drastic actions to stem the menace from consuming 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,” he said.
“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,” Wabba said.
He urged Nigerians to use this season of Ramadan to remember and salute the gallant and members of the Nigerian 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 the armed forces, he said, have paid the supreme price in the ongoing fight to end the insecurity in th country.
While praying for the repose of the souls of all the faithful departed and for God to grant comfort to the families of slain security operatives left behind, he urged security operatives not to relent.
Reiterating the concerns of Labour during its recent National Summit on Peace and Security, Wabba urged 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,” he said.
On the lingering issue of non-payment of the National Minimum Wage and sack and retrenchment of workers by State Governors, the NLC President said those still hesitant should “stop constructing the ecosystem for insecurity and instability”. “Enough is enough!”
Also, Wabba said the NLC rejects and condemns recent statements on plans by the government to slash workers’ salaries.
That, he noted, would be antithetical to the spirit of Eid-al-fitr, which he described as a time Muslims use to assess their standing with Allah and with fellow humans as part of spiritual renewal.
Urging Muslim Ummah to make the most and best use of the Ramadan period to consolidate strength and improve on weaknesses, he said at this time, Nigerian workers deserve and demand an increase in salaries.
Noting the ravaging pangs of Coronavirus pandemic, he expressed happiness that the vaccines are now available to fight the virus.
He advised that every Nigerian, particularly workers, must take advantage of the vaccine to keep the virus at bay.
