NLC Tasks Presidents-Elect on Youth Unemployment

A faction of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), led by Comrade Joe Ajaero has called on the President elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari to focus on expanding the frontier for job creation through value added activities in Agriculture and Industrial Manufacturing to spur industrial revolution.

The agenda is being set for the incoming President based on the call for action on youth employment adopted at the 2012 International Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva.

The Group also reiterated that the leadership of the Congress headed by Comrade Ajaero is committed to genuine dialogue with independent reconciliation committee to be constituted by labour veterans and civil society leaders with a view of addressing the current challenges facing the Congress.

Addressing newsmen on the need for Buhari to muster political will to address policies that would create good and safe work conditions while promoting gender equality in the country, Ajaero urged the President elect to be steadfast in all policy initiatives that would boost job creation for the unemployed youths in the country.

He said: “The president elect, Buhari on assumption of office on May 29, 2015 need to do all within his powers to create an enabling environment that will improve education and health systems as well as strengthening productivity while promoting gender equality in the country”.

According him, President elect need to focus on expanding the frontier for job creation opportunities through value added activities in Agriculture and Industrial Manufacturing to minimise the high rate of unemployment as well as reduce the high crime rate in the country.

“In this direction, he must muster the political will to confront the hydra headed challenge of smuggling, electricity failure, faking and counterfeiting of made in Nigeria goods to boost employment opportunities for Nigerians”, he said.

On the internal crisis in the NLC, Ajaero said: “We are not opposed to genuine dialogue with independent Reconciliation Committee to be constituted by labour veterans and civil society leaders with a view of addressing the current challenges facing the Congress in as much the Committee is not constituted by the Comrade Ayuba Waba led NLC”

He specifically said the CWC in session reiterates it’s commitment to the unity of the labour movement in Nigeria based on the principles of trade union independence, fairness among others.