Labour decries rising poverty in Nigeria

Stakeholders in the nation’s labour sector have decried the rising level of poverty in Nigeria in the midst of abundant petroleum and natural resources in the land. They expressed this position, weekend, during a meeting with the president of World Federation of Trade Union (WFTU), Zwandile Makwayiba in Lagos. They also said majority of Nigerians […]

Stakeholders in the nation’s labour sector have decried the rising level of poverty in Nigeria in the midst of abundant petroleum and natural resources in the land.

They expressed this position, weekend, during a meeting with the president of World Federation of Trade Union (WFTU), Zwandile Makwayiba in Lagos. They also said majority of Nigerians are impoverished due to its current capitalist system.

A communiqué signed by Comrade Leke Success, Convener and Presidential Council Member, WFTU, quoted the stakeholders drawn from the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), as decrying the over exploited nature of Africa.

The stakeholders observed that the dream and vision of the ancestors of Africa is yet to be achieved and more still needs to be done.

They also welcomed the proposed African Regional Conference  of trade unions in Africa for July, this year under the WFTU as an effective mechanism of overcoming neo-colonial barriers and integrated continental efforts.The stakeholders advocated a process of African renewal and the need for far much vocal African leaders who are however not corrupt. “It further resolved that women also take centre stage of the struggle in the labour move, not just through allotment of slots in leadership positions, but through a process of deliberate encouragement and affirmative actions.

“Participants called for a new labour educational curriculum that is adequate for contemporary needs; and which embrace the principles of mentoring, social work, empowerment, etc,” they said.