BY ABDULLAHI ISAH, MAIDUGURI
The President of the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba has said that past Nigerian leaders had no focus and that that is why the country is underdeveloped and wallowing in abject poverty and illiteracy.
The NLC President, who disclosed this Monday when the NLC, Borno state chapter organized a civic reception in his honour which was held at the ASSU Hall, University of Maiduguri, said lack of provision of critical infrastructure like a functional railway, power and roads are the bane of Nigeria`s development.
Wabba said the country will only develop where there is peace, social justice and transparency in government, as according to him, the country will attract investment only when there is peace.
He commended the Federal Government for establishing the North-East Development Commission to carter for the reconstruction of the sub-region, which has been devastated in the last six years of the Boko Haram insurgency. “we believe that this will be the quickest way of rebuilding the shattered infrastructure of the states in the North-East.”
The NLC president urged the Federal Government to diversify the economy, as the dependence on oil alone is catastrophic, adding that the labour movement is ready to partner with the Federal Government to develop the economy, so as to generate employment for the teeming youth of the country.
In his welcome address the state Chairman of the NLC Comrade Titus Abana said the reception was to honour the National President for his meritorious service to NLC in various capacities and for making the state proud.
He said Comrade Wabba has served the union in various capacities up to the position of National President and has dedicated himself to the development of the union, hence the need to honour him, so that it will encourage him to do more.
In his remarks, the chairman of the occasion, former NLC President, Comrade Ali Chiroma, said Wabba has done the people of Borno state proud, as the second President of NLC from the state.
He called on Nigerians and NLC in particular to support the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to succeed, as the nation was going through serious challenges, adding that the labour is the engine room of any development.
