We are glad President Muhammadu Buhari has finally assigned portfolios to his ministers who expectedly would help stir the ship of the administration in the next three and half years. We are also outstandingly glad with Nigerians for their patience while the president was taking his time in choosing the team whom he trusts would be instrumental to the fulfillment of the change mantra they promised Nigerians.
Suffice to state that our challenge today as a country is man-made. Some say it is systematic which we disagree with. We disagree because a system does not run itself. A system is run and managed by man. It is man that embezzles and misappropriates money budgeted for the construction of roads and provision of healthcare facilities. It is man who is involved in money laundering, looting of pension fund and other ills that we have in the country. Our inability to refine petroleum products is a man-made problem. The refusal to pass the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) meant to address issues in the oil and gas sector is caused by man. The failure to pay senior civil servants (pensioners) and workers their salaries for over a period of one year or two is caused by man. From the foregoing we can see that it is when we have the right people we can have the right system.
As an organization interested in the rebuilding of the country we did not frown at the president’s delay because we do not want the president to tell us tomorrow that he was under pressure hence he made the wrong choices. So, while we congratulate him and his team it must be understood that we are tired of rhetorics. All we need now is action, action and action.
This government has a time frame and within the time frame it must deliver to Nigerians the dividends of the change mantra it promised us. It is no longer business as usual knowing full well that the ministers and even the president are accountable to Nigerians. Right now we need total commitment and not people who pride themselves as ministers but will never stay in the country. It is a taboo to have Health Ministers who go on medical tourism abroad in this administration.
Our expectations are very high and our hope is hinged on the change the party promised. As foot soldiers of the change mantra the president and the hope of Nigerians must not be dragged in the mud. You must be creative, proactive and bold. You are lucky to have been chosen but it is important you know that after luck comes work.
Finally, we rejoice with our newest comrade, Senator Chris Ngige, Honourable Minister of Labour on his promise to make frantic effort to address the scourge of unemployment in the country. And besides unemployment honourable minister, employers (foreign and local) refuse unionization of workers and are deeply involved in other anti-labour practices. If these are not addressed there are bound to be industrial disharmony in the country.
Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama
President,TUC
Comrade (Barr.) Musa Lawal
Secretary General, TUC
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With highest regards
Comrade Kenneth Mokwenye
Assistant Secretary General (Media)
Trade Union Congress of Nigeria
338 Ikorodu Road, Idi Iroko Bus Stop
Maryland, Lagos, Nigeria
Tel: +2348028623159, +2348164514185
Website: www.tucng.org
Email: onyeahum@yahoo.com,
onyeahum72@gmail.com
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