NLC charges FG to ensure job security, incomes

President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ayuba Wabba, has called on government at all levels as well as other employers of labour to ensure job security, incomes and livelihood.

Wabba in his Eid-eI-fitr message, said the Ramadan holiday is not the time to arbitrarily cut down the salaries of workers or deny workers’ their means of livelihood.

Congratulating Nigerian Muslim community for successfully conclusion  of the Ramadan, the NLC President noted that the restrictions and inconveniences imposed by the novel coronavirus has made the observation of this year’s Ramadan far more tasking and indeed, spiritually rewarding for all Muslims.

“Government at all levels and employers can make workers’ load lighter by ensuring the security of jobs, income and livelihood. 

“The Ramadan holiday is not the time to arbitrarily cut down the salaries of workers or deny workers’ their means of livelihood,” Wabba said.

While calling on Muslims and all citizens to fully imbibe the virtues of Eid-el-fitri, Wabba stated that Nigerian workers have shown strong affinity to the values of Eid-eI-fitri by soldiering on in self-denial, dedication and diligence as frontline workers against the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The Nigeria Labour Congress joins millions of our compatriots of the Muslim ummah to celebrate this year’s Eid-eI-fitr. 

“We congratulate all Muslim workers and indeed, the Nigerian Muslim community for successfully concluding the observance of the holy month of Ramadan. 

“Your perseverance through the fasting period is a shining embodiment of the spirit of Eid.

“Eid-el-fitr is a very significant event in the life of every Muslim, chiefly because of the virtues it exemplifies. Eid-eI-fitr teaches denial, dedication, discipline, diligence, love and sharing. 

“Eid-el-fitr is also a time of stock taking as Muslims use the period of the Ramadan fasting to take an objective assessment of their areas of strength and weakness. The strengths are consolidated while the weaknesses are strengthened.

“Eid-eI-fitr reinforces the lessons of COVID-l9. The need to love and to share has never been as profoundly communicated as during the current global fight against COVID-19. 

“There is no better time to share with those who do not have especially the destitute in our midst.

“This year’s Eid-el-fitr also echoes the message of hope which inspires all of us that though the night of COVlD-19 might be long, but the rays of the dawn of Allah’s benevolent mercies would soon arrive to compensate for all the current troubles. We can only keep faith alive,” he stated.

Furthermore, Wabba stressed the need for Nigerians to rise to the existential challenges thrown up by the coronavirus pandemic, saying “we must take personal responsibilities for our own health especially through abiding by extant public health regulations.”