The Nigeria Labour Con-gress (NLC) has said over the last decade, the economy has grown impressively, lamenting that the economic statistics have never been in tune with reality as unemployment and poverty remain at between 23.9 per cent and 72 per cent.
Its factional President, Comrade Joe Ajero said it is clear that the economy has grown without benefitting the people.
To end the paradox of growth, joblessness and incidence of growing poverty, he urged the government to focus on expanding the frontier for job creation through value-added activities in agriculture, mining, mineral processing and industrial manufacturing.
Ajaero pointed out that the growth and development of the real sector and increased value added in manufacturing are quite critical for creation of mass decent jobs, poverty elimination and for building a virile and sustainable economy anticipated by revered person during the campaigns.
He advised President Muhammadu Buhari to develop framework and strategies to deal decisively with the challenge of smuggling, electricity failure, faking and counterfeiting of Made-in-Nigeria goods.
“We demand a macro-economic policy regime that will address stability in the currency exchange regime, progressive tax administration and the management of customs and excise duties in the manners that will promote local production of goods and services. We must say bye to the destructive regime of duty waivers,” Ajaero said.
He enjoined the government to use the momentous opportunity to establish sound foundation for a virile, strong and united Nigeria where everyone, including foreigners will live in comfort, peace, prosperity and absolute security.
He urged President Buhari to resolve the lingering crisis in the energy sector, adding the crisis has led to factory closures and impoverishment of homes.
He expressed concern over the frequent emergence of long queues at petrol filling stations in major cities as a result of insufficient supply of petroleum products across the country.
This, according to him, is further compounded with the recent release of the audit report into the account of NNPC which just revealed a tip of the iceberg of the deep-rooted mismanagement, maladministration, wastages and corruption in the petroleum industry.
He said: “Our effort to develop as a nation may not materialize except we are able to resolve the lingering energy crisis in our country. As we have seen, privatization has not in any way improved the supply of electricity to industries and homes across the country”.
“We therefore demanded that special attention to address the challenges of electricity supply in the country in particular and, in the immediate term, apply accelerated solution for industrial power needs,” Ajaero said.

Culled from: thenationonlineng.net

SnAIl Baba

Which way

Fixing the energy sector will create so many jobs and solve a lot or Nigeria's problems.

baba are you still drinking kunu, please wake up to the task Nigerians vote you for