By Victor Ahiuma- Young
Owerri—ORGANISED Labour yesterday called on the Federal Government to devise a
more progressive approach to addressing the agitation of Indigenous People of
Biafra, IPOB, and other militant groups in the country. IPOB potesters
grounding Onitsha, the commercial city of Anambra State, South-east Nigeria,
during their 1 Million March, to call for the immediate release of their
leader, Nnamdi Kanu. Kanu was arrested by the Department of State Services,
DSS, on his way into Nigeria from UK File:
IPOB potesters grounding Onitsha,
the commercial city of Anambra State, South-east Nigeria, during their 1
Million March, to call for the immediate release of their leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
Kanu was arrested by the Department of State Services, DSS, on his way into
Nigeria from UK Speaking through the National Union of Chemical, Footwear,
Rubber, Leather and Non-Metallic Products Employees, NUCFRLANMPE, at the
ongoing five-day seminar in Owerri, Imo State, on industrial relation issues,
labour urged the government to down play the use of force. The theme of the
seminar is ‘’Redefining Industrial Relations for the Sustenance of Chemical and
Non-metallic sector in an era of economic instability’’. Addressing
participants, President of NUCFRLANMPE, Mr Boniface Isok, said:
“Government should find a better approach of
addressing the yearnings of the Niger Delta militants, including the Avengers,
the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, and the Boko Haram group with a view of
addressing their grievances in a more peaceful manner rather than force.” He
equally called on the Federal Government to evolve local strategy in solving
the challenges facing the country, contending that, foreign policies could not
adequately address the challenges in the country. Isok noted that it was
imperative for government to analyse the country’s peculiar challenges with a
view to solving them, lamenting that one of the problems affecting the nation
at present was the massive importation of poor quality and cheaper consumable
goods. According to him: “This creates stiff competition for the locally
produced goods. The practice affects the health and well-being of the consumers
and reduces the Gross Domestic product of the country.
The government should take a decision to
ensure the regulation and restraining of the influx of foreign goods into the
country.” He pleaded with government to immediately diversify the nation’s
economy from oil to agriculture, mining, tourism and manufacturing to ensure
the rapid growth and development of the economy. The President of NUCFRLANMPE
said manufacturing sector was at its lowest ebb because of lack of access to
foreign exchange to procure raw materials for production, saying ‘’To make
matters worse, epileptic power supply, non availability of gas and fuel,
infrastructural amenities, insecurities and problems that must be tackled.’’
He added that it was regrettable that the
problem had led to massive retrenchment of workers, and upsurge in
casualisation of workers and other unfair practices. On his part, Mr.
Olorunfemi Oke, Executives Secretary, Chemical and Nonmetallic Products
Employers Federation, CANMPEF, decried the state of the economy, saying it was
negatively affecting both the employers and employees. According to him, the
economy had continue to contract especially with the negative forecast by
International Monetary Fund, IMF, which was collaborated by the Central Bank of
Nigeria, CBN, which had potential to negatively impact on employment relations.
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