Ifeoluwa MokeluFormer Governor Peter Obi has called on Nigerian workers to remain resolute in building a better nation for all, irrespective of the present challenges, just as he advised on need to address Nigeria’s 55 percent combined unemployment and under-employment issues.
Obi made the call in his Message to mark the 2022 Workers Day coming up on Sunday, May 1. He restated the need to move the country from the ‘sharing and consumption mentality’ to a creative and productive country. He said that this can be achieved when workers and all Nigerians carry out their duties productively, for the sake of the country, rather than being transactional for their personal interests.
By custom, Nigerian workers mark their freedom on May 1 every year.
Lamenting Nigeria’s high unemployment rate, Obi said, “No country grows economically with 35% unemployment rate, which when combined with under-employment, will be 55%, with 60% of the unemployed people being youths, the greatest asset of any nation. I urge the government to aggressively support micro, small and medium enterprises which are the engine of job creation, so that they can effectively contribute to reducing the unemployment rate, as is the case in other nations.”
Decrying the high cost of living, the effect of which is worse on the Nigerian workers, whereby they spend 100% of their income on feeding alone, Obi urged all Nigerians, particularly Nigerian workers, to commit themselves to increased productivity which will translate to increased government revenue and subsequently an increase in the welfare of workers.
He urged the government to find ways to pay outstanding pensions and gratuities, and honour agreements with workers, especially that with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), so as to end the ongoing strike action and enable “our children to go back to school.”
He finally congratulated all Nigerian workers on their celebration of Workers Day, while encouraging them to hold unto the beautiful virtues of diligence and hard work.
The former governor aspires to vie for Nigeria’s presidency in the 2023 general elections under the platform of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP)
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