SSANIPOST

Labour Leaders Decry Global Poverty

Labour leaders have expressed regret that millions of people are suffering from malnutrition in a world full of prosperity and implored the various governments to take adequate measures to ensure a just society.

Speaking at FOBTOB 11^th National Delegates Conference in Jos, PlateauState, the President of Agricultural Workers Trade Group (AWTG), of IUF, Adwoa Sakyi, noted that 840million people suffer from hunger and malnutrition in a world of increasing prosperity and plentiful food supplies.

She observed that the unjust world economic order in the name of globalization was being forced down the throats of the populace by creating imbalances in the lives of poor workers.

It is an undeniable fact that more than ever before, only unity and consistent struggle by workers around the world can create new society based on solidarity, co-operation and social justice.

She explained that the global melt down had far-reaching implication for the food, beverage and tobacco industry and implored the union to take necessary steps to formulate and advocate for policies that would serve the interest of workers and the society at large.

She assured the group preparedness to continue the working together with other labour bodies to find relevant responses to the issues that will influence the living conditions of workers even as they strive to contribute to the economic development of this country.

In its solidarity message, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) urged the trade unions to rally against fuel deregulation and demand for a new National Minimum Wage because the situation had become unbearable.

“We see hunger everywhere, poverty everywhere, diseases everywhere and people are too poor to buy drugs, workers are thrown out of jobs, families suffer, old people and children starve, workers are denied gratuities, and pensions are no longer paid. Those who have not been driven from their jobs are not paid salaries regularly, even if they are paid, they starve because the wages are starvation wages.”

……………………NLC lamented

According to the congress, the Nigerian people cannot afford the high cost of transport while food prices have increased by over 300% in the last three years. It recalled that in 1999, Government promised that electricity problem would be a things of the past, pointing out that today, most Nigerians live in total darkness. Consequently, more factories are shut down and some relocated to neighboring countries like Ghana.              ……….the statement added.

By and large, the NLC which was represented by the Vice President – Comrade Ladi IIiya commended the leadership of Comrade G. T. Babalola, the outgoing President of FOBTOB for sustaining the formidable legacy of FOBTOB as a strong affiliate of the Trade Union Congress (TUC).