NULAE gets new executive, promises to tackle unemployment, other challenges
* Vows to resist harassment by council officials
The National Union of Lottery Agent Employees (NULAE) has vowed to reduce unemployment in the country, with the right enabling environment. The union also urged it’s executive to uphold truth as a motto with a view to enabling it to be well-positioned in the labour sphere and carry out its functions effectively.
The charge was given during the inauguration ceremony of the executive members for the Lagos State Council, witnessed by senior labour comrades from different labour unions in the country.
Speaking during the inauguration held in Lagos, the Acting National President of the union, Comrade Mustapha Musa Osmosis stressed that the lottery industry is fast becoming an alternative to oil in terms of revenue inflow for the Nigerian economy, stating that a lot of Nigerians will be employed and be self employed.
He said,”Let me start by congratulating the new executive of the Lagos State Chapter; and also say to them that you can only succeed while in office when you uphold the trust, the whole trust and nothing but the trust bestowed in you.
“Take note that it is your desire, motivation, willingness and drive to serve the members of this union that can move this union forward. You have been given the opportunity to make meaningful change to make the union palatable for all members.”
“It is imperative to state that this great union is not set up to castigate, criticise and or frustrate any agency or individual, but rather to promote the course of lottery and unity of its employee in Nigeria. I further state that this organisation has come to stay.”
Newly elected Chairman of the Lagos State Chapter, Comrade Idowu Olasunkanmi, said, ” We shall ensure that the existing relationship between the government of the day, all lottery companies and ensure that agents are respected. We shall harmonise the existing relationship as well as improve upon it.”.
He further stressed that the increasing acceptance of lottery among Lagosians is an indication that the industry is one of the major contributors to the state economy; and as the Lagos State Governments continues to encourage investment in the industry, the economic and social standard of her citizens will continue to broaden, thus providing a fertile ground for social growth and the economic empowerment for all.
Speaking with Daily Times, the General Secretary, Comrade Olatunji Gregory, stressed that the inauguration is the second of the series by the council and the reason is because, Lagos state is the hub of lottery business, due to the potential it possess, and the need for it to be adequately regulated.
According to him,”We have thousands of people doing this business in Lagos; and that is even more reasons it should be regulated to get rid of illegal operators who operate on the same pace as the legal operators, sharing the profit, and that is why we are collaborating with the Lagos State Lottery Board to get the illegal operators from the system.
“Also, the companies need to give us full cooperation, they are money-bags and they try to scare away unions and it’s agents, but I can tell you that after today, it won’t be business as usual for them, with the inauguration of the Lagos State chapter.”
He said,”The umbrella union where we belong, United Labour Congress (ULC), has promised to give us full support to make sure we succeed in Lagos. Lottery business is one of the major employers of labour in Nigeria currently,;a lot of people will be employed; and new companies will be coming on-board. This will give youths the ability to be self employed.”
He said, “If the government gives us the enabling environment to function well, Nigerians will see unemployment cases as a thing of the past, and the staggering figures of unemployment rate in the country will reduce.
“We plead with government to speak with its law enforcement agents to desist from harassing our members and carrying away our terminals. Each time I get calls that our members are either in police custody, or their terminals, meant to be generating hundreds of thousands on the daily basis will be confiscated by task force officials for months.”
He said, “Also, to the local government officials, they should make them understand that our responsibility to pay tax is to the state government and not the local revenue board, they should stop harassing us because we won’t take it any longer”.
He added that, “Currently, premier lotto is paying a huge sum, worth N500 million annually to the National lottery regulatory commission, and also to the Lagos State government. Imagine if one company pays this much, and we have over 23 companies currently operating in Nigeria. Government is also looking at lottery business as an alternative to oil revenues, the market is not even fully tapped into. If we do it well, there is a lot of benefits that we will derive from lottery business.”
However, the President of the United Labour Congress, (ULC) Comrade Joe Ajaero said that ULChas pledged to be with NULAE and support them to build a formidable lottery union.
“The union is new and the challenges will be experienced. It’s good they are starting in Lagos, which is the cradle of unionism in Nigeria.”
“They will grow and there is need to sensitize the general public on the activities of lottery agents, so whatever might be the negative perception before now, will be cleared.The ULC has pledged to be with them and support them and build a formidable lottery union.”
He further explained that the union needs to have a national spread, cover the entire country, apart from the economic nerve centres. Other states should be autonomous and focus on other geopolitical zones, with this, their growth is eminent.
“ULC will support technically and logistically, as far as we have promised to do so, we will fulfil our words when necessary.”
