Infrastructure, bane of economic growth, employment – Asugwuni

The President of the National Union of Civil Engineering, Construction, Furniture and Wood Workers (NUCECFW), Amechi Asugwuni, has ‎appealed to the Federal Government to allocate more funds for infrastructure development.

He made the appeal when NLC leaders, led by its President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, were on a tour of affiliate unions to partner and find solutions to their challenges.

According to Asugwuni, infrastructure development is slow and any country that does not build its infrastructure, the growth and employment creation will be stagnated.

He advised the government to ensure the establishment of a fund for infrastructure development and fast track the construction of roads and other infrastructure.

He called on the government to pay employer’s in the sector money owed them.

The NLC President, Mr Ayuba Wabba, said the construction sector was the pillar of every economy, adding that, no country could develop without adequate infrastructure.

“How can we encourage small and medium scale enterprise if there is no steady power supply and good road network? The cost of doing business in Nigeria is higher than any other country.

“The conditions of the roads are a nightmare, especially from Lagos to the Southsouth, and Southwest and the North. They are all in dire need of rehabilitation,” he said.

Wabba said it was sad that the government did not prioritise the development of infrastructure in spite of deficit in the budget.

He said labour was focused on social justice in the system because, without it, workers would not have decent lives.

He said the NLC would ensure that the government committed enough resources to building important infrastructure in the country and move the economy forward.