Why banditry is prevalent, by Labour, Oshiomhole

Ukpono Ukpong, Abuja

Organised Labour and other stakeholders in nation building have unveiled the possible causes of the current state of insecurity in parts of the country.

Also, the Secretary of the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, has tasks organised Labour to always explore all available avenues to resolving industrial dispute before adopting strike as an option, noting that it’s members are integral stakeholders in the development of the country.

He expressed optimism that with all the stakeholders present at the summit, Nigeria will come out as strong indivisible country.

“We hoped that the summit will find an original Nigerian solution to our peculiar challenges. It’s time for all Nigerians to answer the clarion call and work together irrespective of our differences to fight the current enemy if the country.”

In a separate speech delivered at the 2nd Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), National Peace and Security summit in Abuja, the NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, the former Chairman, All Progressive Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomole, has alleged that the over 29,000 workers sacked by the Kaduna State government in the last two years have played a major role in contributing to the current insecurity experienced in the region.

Comrade Ayuba Wabba, said that our political leaders should be ready to take responsibility for the actions they took while in office.

He said that there is a nexus between throwing workers out of their jobs and the resultant increase in unemployment and rising wave of insecurity.

“The present high state of insecurity in Kaduna State has a lot to do with the penchant of the state government for throwing workers out of jobs. As we speak, from 2016 to date, over 29,000 workers have been thrown out their jobs in Kaduna state.

“Also tuition fees in Kaduna State have been increased by 100 percent. What this means is that many children of the poor workers will not be able to attend good schools while the children of the rich are sent to study outside the country.

The implication is that these children who dropped out of school will now be used by bad elements to perpetrate insecurity in the country.

“We call on the governor of Kaduna State to rescind the decision urgently. As we are aware, we have already slated five days of withdrawal of services in Kaduna state.

All services, in all sectors, including, banks, railway, air transport and Civil Service will be withdrawn completely, in the first instance and where he does not show remorse and does not to be called to order, Nigerian workers will follow up to withdraw their services nationwide.”

He explained that the summit is taking place against the backdrop of increased criminality as occasioned by terrorism, banditry and all sheds of criminality including, kidnapping, abduction, and killing of Nigerian citizens.

Speaking further, he said that the peace summit is to interrogate the issues causing insecurity and find a lasting solution that can take the country of the woods of insecurity sooner or later.

He said that what the country needs now, is a minimum requirement in terms of arms and amunitions, in terms of technology deployment and in terms of welfare.

“The summit is also looking at how best to support the armed forces in the prosecution of the anti terrorism war.

“However, we are concerned about recent plans to relocate the US African Command from Germany to Nigeria. While we welcome intelligence sharing and ammunitions support to our armed forces, we warn that it will be counterproductive to replace our army with foreign soldiers.

“Nigerian Armed Forces are capable of surmounting the insecurity challenge if they are supported with adequate funds and technological equipment.

On his part, Oshiomole alleged that the children that have been abandoned by the society have now grown up and turned against the society for turning their back on them.

The former APC Chairman insisted that those that have been retrenched and are left without any means of livelihood, have now been forced into crime.

“Who are the bandits? I suspect, that those 35,000 workers in Kaduna city whose livelihood have been taken, what are they doing? What will their children and grandchildren be doing now? It’s common sense to know that an idle mind, is a devil’s workshop.

“I suspect that those Nigerians that we abandoned and not provide for them, as you can call them almajiri or beggars, they have all grown up. When you talk about unemployment, the biggest problem is having the biggest population of unemployable because they never had any opportunity of being taught by a qualified teacher.”

He said that security should not only be looked from the aspect of what the military and police can do to restore peace rather it should also be tackled from the issue of security of wages and jobs.

Speaking further, he queried why the Lawmakers would prescribe N30,000 as minimum wage and some Governors for some reasons would sit and insist that the amount cannot be paid?

“When they deny workers such payment, can there be peace? I summit with International Labour Organisation that the condition for national peace and security does not necessarily need much bullet but decent jobs but when you are at an environment where jobs are being killed, jobs that does not exist cannot even be decent.”

The former ruling party Chairman, said that the NLC will not succeed in its quest to educate those that have been benefiting as merchant of crises as they cannot be tutored out if their business, explaining that they are not making the anti-labour policies out of ignorance.

“It is criminal for any Governor not to pay workers as and when due. If the oppressed stop antagonising and organise themselves, and find a common unity across the country, that will be the beginning of laying foundation for sustainable peace in Nigeria.

“The 36 state Governors are united… The oppressors are united against you (workers). When we are through with discussing the issue of insecurity, we can then start discussing the issue of security of wage and jobs.

He however, urged the workers to stop educating the ‘oppressors’ and start deploying their capacity to stop them.

Meanwhile, on his part, the pioneer President of the NLC, Comrade Hassan Sunmonu, said that Nigeria is a Federal Republic that is been run like a Unitary government.

He said that it is wrong that the Constitution currently used was imposed on Nigerians by the military dictators.

However, he appealed to all public leaders to return to True Federalism, saying that “the earlier we move to true Federalism, the better for us or our problems will still persist.”

He proposed giving the lawmakers six months time frame to think on measures that’ll bring the nation to True Federalism.

“Nigerians are angry and the leaders must look for a way to restore happiness.”