Again on behalf of the National Executive Council (NEC) of the union and the generality of our members, we congratulate the new President of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari on his successful swearing in as the 4th democratically elected President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in this dispensation.
His inaugural address is brief but significantly profound for national renewal. It is remarkable that the President frontally named some national problems. It is only by naming the problems that we can shame and tame them.
ELECTRICITY
We are with President Buhari that it is indeed ” …a shame that with over $20bn investment in the power sector since 1999, Nigeria generates less than 4,000 mw”. Labour will partner with the new President to realize the vision of uninterrupted power supply. Without electricity there can be no industrialization. The promise and expectation that the President will revive textile industry is not possible without electricity.
LABOUR SUPPORT FOR REFORM
It is refreshing that President Buhari recognizes the role of non-state institutions such as labour unions, organized private sector, the press and civil society organizations in the great task of national renewal. Labour will partner with new administration in wealth generation, service delivery and income distribution through social dialogue and collective bargaining with the existing labour market institutions.
It is commendable President Buhari has promised to reform and re-build the public service and check gross corruption in the states and local governments.
Labour appreciates this inclusive orientation. However Reform should ensure greater service delivery and productivity and not lead to job losses in an already depressed labour market characterized by high unemployment. The challenges of development in Nigeria call for more jobs in both public and private sectors of the economy. Labour assures the new President of cooperation in the direction of wealth generation, job creation and job retention.
INSECURITY
It is commendable that President Buhari in his speech has dammed terrorism masquerading as religion. The President rightly described Boko Haram as a mindless group whose philosophy is very far from the tenets of Islam even as he pledged to revamp the military’s rule of engagement. We call on all Nigerians to key in to this informed renewed war against senseless violence that has claimed thousands of lives.
REINVENTING NIGERIA’s MISSION
We salute the president for bringing back history and critically concluded that in “recent times Nigerian leaders appear to have misread our mission”. He must bring back the great legacies of selflessness of the founding fathers he mentioned in his speech namely; Mr Herbert Macauley, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Alhaji Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto, Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Malam Aminu Kano, Chief J.S. Tarka, Mr Eyo Ita, Chief Denis Osadeby, Chief Ladoke Akintola and their colleagues who worked to establish certain standards of governance.
As an affiliate of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the President is assured of the cooperation and support of the union and the entire labour movement.
Issa Aremu, mni
GENERAL SECRETARY
National Union of Textile, Garment & Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN)
