Organised labour has charged the federal government to create a more conducive atmosphere for creation of sustainable jobs to prune crime and insecurity in the country.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), who stated this last week, noted that militancy, kidnapping and other social vices in the country would be drastically reduced if the federal and three tiers of governments should create sustainable jobs for the citizenry. NLC also advised that, government should create sustainable and not casual jobs that the payment will not be able to take the workers home at the end of the month.
Speaking at a function recently, the NLC president, Comrade Joe Ajaero stated that employment is the best way to cope with the social crisis in the country. He said, people that are meaningfully engaged would not think of indulging in social vices.
Ajaero said: “I want to acknowledge the programme today (Tuesday), the labour movement, we identify with any programme that enhances employment.
And employment is the best way to cope with our social crisis.
“People that are engaged, people that are working, will not think of other social crises. The level of militancy, the level of kidnapping, the rate of insecurity will come to the barest level if we create jobs. And that is why the labour movement identifies with this.
“If this is wholeheartedly allowed to work, the greatest problem we have is poor finishing. I think if this is properly implemented, Nigeria will be heaven of sorts. And I want to say, at any stage where the input of the labour movement is required, where our assistance is required, we’ll be there, because it will benefit the people of Nigeria.”
In the same vein, Ajaero noted that, the kind of jobs needed to be created should go above indecent or precarious jobs, casual or outsourcing jobs or jobs that the salary cannot take such workers home.
“We are calling for decent jobs, the jobs that will give meaningful engagements to Nigerians? This is not a speech making day, but I think the main message is to identify with the programme. I think at every point in time, we need to be involved in what is happening, to see where it is pinching us. Programmes without the input of the workers are not the best. And I wish to advise all policy formulators to coordinate with the implementers of such policies, so that we have a level playing ground and end it successfully,” he pointed out.
Comrade Ajaero, who thanked the two ministers of Labour, assured that the NLC will continue to dialogue and work with them. He also thanked the International Labour Organisation(ILO) for its interest in creating sustainable and not precarious jobs.
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