Nigerian Labour Congress members at an anti-corruption demonstration during 2008.
Originally uploaded by Pan-African News Wire File Photos
Written by Victor Ahiuma-Young
Monday, 06 October 2008
A Vice President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and General Secretary of the National Union of Textile, Garment, Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN), Comrade Issa Aramu, said some positive developments now noticeable in states like Lagos, Kwara, Rivers, Kaduna and few others are pointers that with right leadership, the dreams of the nation’s founding fathers could be realised in no distant future.
Comrade Aremu noted that specifically, the recently declared emergency in education in Rivers State, the introduction of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system in Lagos state, aimed at reducing traffic congestion in the city, and introduction free and compulsory primary education, free medical services to pregnant women and children as part of his 11-point Agenda amongst others in Kaduna state are positive things that should be encouraged.
The NLC Vice President in a statement to commemorating the nation’s 48th Independence anniversary commended the Governors Forum under the chairmanship of Governor Bukola Saraki of Kwara State for recently helping to resolve the protracted national strike by the teachers which ultimately sent most Nigerian children back to school.
According to him: “We are also encouraged with the activism of some of the State governors. Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State for instance recently declared emergency in education in the State. Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State introduced Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system aimed at reducing traffic congestion in the city.
The Governor of Kaduna State, Arc. Namadi Sambo introduced free and compulsory primary education, free medical services to pregnant women and children as part of his 11-point Agenda amongst others.
The Governors Forum under the chairmanship of Governor Bukola Saraki of Kwara State recently helped to resolve the protracted strike action by the teachers thereby sending our children back to school. These are the promises of independence.
As we mark our 48th Independence Day, we must resolve to return to the developmentalist Nigeria of the 60s and 70s. Nigeria had great promise for development right away after independence. In 1963, Nigeria’s GDP was $5.8 billion, compared with $3.8 billion for Indonesia, $3.1 billion for Malaysia and $9.8 billion for Venezuela.
It cannot be overstated that these countries have left Nigeria far behind in terms of productivity, income generation and general economic development. We must imbibe the spirit of hard work, unity and nationalism.”
Comrade Aremu said: “ President Yar’ Adua in his independence speech to Nigerians announced the country has saved some billions of Naira from the MDAs. But MDAs are not fund-saving agencies. The issue is that have the MDAs delivered needed services within the context of the 7-point agenda?
What of the potential surpluses we are denying the nation through power outages and collapsed infrastructure, health care delivery, collapsed factories?
How can a nation talk of saving against the background of mass of needs, abject poverty, when those who are supposed to be in school are not in school, when Malaria and Yellow Fever are killing in almost the same proportion as HIV/AIDS, when the industries are closed down with huge army of unemployed roaming the streets, when security of lives and properties of the citizens are still in danger and when portable drinking water are still far from the reach of the ordinary people?
These are basic developmental issues that spurred nationalism, which eventually gave rise to Nigeria’s independence.”
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