We are for one Nigeria ―NLC, TUC

THE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) on Thursday voted for one indivisible Nigeria, declaring that the Nigerian workers are “for one Nigeria”.

In a press conference jointly addressed by the NLC and TUC on the state of the nation at the Labour House, Abuja yesterday, the workers warned that there are immediate and present dangers in the on-going war-mongering; and drum beats of war which had escalated to a deafening dimension.

In the press conference addressed by the NLC President Comrade Ayuba Wabba and the President of TUC, Comrade Bobboi Kaigama, they stated in clear and unequivocal terms, the support of Nigeria workers for the unity and sovereignty of Nigeria, rather than the drum beats of war being beaten by the political elites.

“We speak out today as a pan-Nigeria organisation that believes in the sovereignty and indissolubility of one Nigeria!” Comrade Wabba, who read the text of the press conference said.

The NLC President said: “We are addressing this press conference to state in clear and unequivocal terms, our position on the unity and sovereignty of Nigeria as a response to the drum beats of war which had escalated to a deafening dimension while we were away in Geneva, Switzerland, for this year’s International Labour Conference.

“Due to the urgency and primacy of the issue, we have found it necessary to consult our organs, upon our return, to articulate the position of Nigerian workers, particularly drawing the attention of Nigerians to the immediate and present dangers of the on-going war-mongering.

“You have been witnesses to the degeneration of the national conversation into threats and counter-threats; of pulling down the federation by disparate and desperate forces, all of which were conveyed in vile and base language.

“Obviously, these persistent hot exchanges and attacks tend to threaten the very foundation and integrity of our sovereignty and unity; and therefore do not represent the true feelings of patriotic Nigerians for one another. Rather, they symbolise the intensity of greed, the implacable arrogance and desperation of the elites, some of whom have been funding or sponsoring the hate campaigns that can only lead to the disintegration of our dear nation.

“We speak out because we are not persuaded by the base arguments that a fragmented Nigeria best suits any of our members.”

Wabba pointed out that physical conflict “will hurt us all; most particularly workers, Pensioners and their families who will be the most direct and immediate casualties”.

According to him, dialogue remains the most tested and result-oriented form of conflict resolution mechanism and should be given full rein.

“Thus, those fanning the embers of disunity need to be discouraged and schooled on the realities of war. In the same vein, we appeal to all parts of Nigeria, and indeed, all Nigerians not to fall cheaply for the glamorisation of conflict or war, as a solution to our self-inflicted crisis,” he added.

He called on all Nigerians – progressives or conservatives, men and women and of whatever faith and ethnicity – to stand up with one voice and fight those promoting division on the basis of primordial affinity.

Wabba pointed out that they do this not for the good of the community but for their vested interests.

He said: “Let us therefore not allow them to use poor Nigerian workers, Pensioners and peasants as cannon fodders for their selfish interests. The desperate but vocal few cannot and should not be allowed to speak for the majority of us”.

Labour, according to him has over the decades stood for one Nigeria right from our founding fathers who were in the frontline of the struggle for independence through our leaders who led the masses to fight against imposition of neo-liberal policies by military dictatorships.

He pointed out that these have culminated in the prevailing hardship that Nigerians from all corners – North, South, East and West are facing.

Wabba said: “Our common enemy, and whom we must all resolve to face, remains the corrupt political class, who instead of utilising the God-endowed wealth of our nation, choose to loot it for themselves and their children thereby depriving us of decent living and inflicting on us a scarred collective psychology that is predominantly negative, hostile and unproductive.

“On our part as Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria and civil society, we are determined to stop our elites and their lackeys from throwing us as a nation into another avoidable civil war.”