Help, we no longer get hired, labourers tell BOSG

According to the Secretary of the Association, James Abbas, several attempts to be awarded contract works by the state government had failed. “On several occasions, we have approached the state government for building and construction contracts to reduce the number of our idle labourers. Not quite long ago, the government said they were going to […]

According to the Secretary of the Association, James Abbas, several attempts to be awarded contract works by the state government had failed. “On several occasions, we have approached the state government for building and construction contracts to reduce the number of our idle labourers. Not quite long ago, the government said they were going to award us a drainage construction contract but it was not fulfilled. But during this year’s democracy day celebration, the state government gave the association the sum of N100, 000 and each member was given N400, while the balance was kept in the account of the Association. It solved some of our problems, but we need more assistance from the state government,” he said.

 James Abbas added: “We are faced with many challenges. Our members come from various locations in the state and stay the whole day without being hired for any job.  This situation is disturbing. We have over 500 registered members and most of them stay idle during the day.” Some of the labourers and members of the association also lamented on their plight. Marcel Emmanuel is a mason who has spent 10 years in the trade. “Right now, we are suffering. We want the state government to alleviate our sufferings because there is no work. We want them to give us some building works.” Aisha, a mother of nine, who has been selling food at the operating point of the association, concluded that, “If the government engages these artisans in its construction works, we too can sell our food and take care of our children. If the labourers do not get any work to do, we cannot make any sales.”