The Nigeria Labour Congress has said it will mobilise Nigerians for nationwide protests to resist the plan by the Federal Government to sell strategic assets under the guise of using the funds to be generated to get the country out of recession.
The President of the NLC, Mr. Ayuba Wabba, said the consequences of the proposed sale of the strategic assets would be more grievous if Nigerians did not stop the government from carrying out the policy.
He made the comment on Monday in Abuja while inaugurating a think-tank of the NLC and the Academic Staff Union of Universities, entrusted with the responsibility of leading the intellectual engagement with the Federal Government on the contentious move to sell the country’s assets.
According to him, the NLC is making preparations to battle the Federal Government in courts to prevent the planned sale of the assets, explaining that the congress had secured the services of 20 volunteer lawyers, who had offered their services to the NLC on the issue.
The members of the 10-man NLC’s ‘Think-Tank on Socio-Economic Issues’ are a former President of ASUU, Dr. Dipo Fashina; Prof. Toye Olorode, Dr. Mohammed Aliyu, Dr. Mustapha Usman and Dr. Isaac Nwogugu.
Other members of the committee are Dr. Yemisi Bamgbose, Mr. Issa Aremu, Mr. Sonny Atuma, Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson, and Mr. Auwal Mustapha, who is the secretary.
Wabba stated, “While it is important to rescue our country from the current economic recession, sale of our commonwealth and strategic assets is certainly not a move in the right direction, and all Nigerians must have the courage to oppose it.
“All the (national) assets are under threat depending on the interest of who is speaking; the NLNG, refineries, all the assets are presently under threat. If we work together, then we can try to defend these assets. It will take the effort of all of us to stop them.
“Nobody will buy what is not profitable. That is why people are looking in the direction of the most profitable.”
Wabba stressed that the problem with Nigeria was corruption, which had become endemic in both the private and public sectors, and not the economic model to use.
The NLC president believed that politicians, who stole so much money and had been hiding the loot, were looking for ways to buy the assets with their looted funds.
Wabba assured Nigerians that organised labour was united in the quest to preserve the nation’s strategic assets for Nigerians and future generations.
“We are sure of ourselves; this is of concern to every citizen. We should not allow the bidding of those few who don’t mean well for the country. On the issue of selling out, we are on the same page, we will do everything possible to try to work together.
“We shouldn’t be discouraged because of the fact that we envisage sabotage or an effort to undermine the struggle. In every struggle, there would be moves to sabotage such,” he added. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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Buhari is beginning to strike me as a buffoon. Why sell assets when a significant amount of money can be saved from political office holders excessives? Our legislators are the highest paid in the world. Running a two-chamber (bicameral) house is superfluous. Scrap the Senate; the budget of keeping staff of the presidency is more than state allocations, if we take into account what dishonourable workers such as the plagiarist speech writer earns -- close to ten million, for example. All these from one single source of revenue -- oil-- which has lost value significantly in the world market. Saudi Arabia that Buhari would love to emulate exports over ten million barrels daily for a population of twenty-six million citizens, yet they have cut down ministerial salaries by 20%. Yes, they are contemplating divesting Aramco, but they are better off. What difference will selling off our assets mean other than to further pauperize the masses at the expense of the oligarchs, among whom a covetous buyer of a Premier League team is waiting on the wings? Of course, we need more money to fund Aisha and her children's estacodes at UNGA and the likes where they are not needed.
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DeleteI hope it will not be like the last strike. I don't trust this nlc cos they seem to be apc government stooge . But there need to be serious strike and demonstration to force this useless corrupt and selfish apc government from selling Nigeria.
ReplyDeleteWhere are all those running around with brooms? Most cannot afford the broom now.Hunger don dey show them shege now.
I like this change well well. Hehehehe!
Icon buy a bundle of brooms against 2019 inspite of the high cost. Hahahaha!
Change dole!
Sai Baba!