Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) believes there is grounds for optimism, despite the country's issues,
Mr. Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigerian Labour Congress, stated this in a statement issued on Saturday in recognition of Nigeria's Independence Day, which is celebrated on October 1.
He urged Nigerians to approach the 2023 Independence Day with renewed vigour.
Ajaero challenged them with acknowledging the past, confronting current difficulties, and working together to make Nigeria a better place.
According to him, Nigeria is still a country with immense potential.
"If properly empowered, our young and dynamic population can be the driving force behind our resurgence. It is critical that we invest in education, skill development, and job creation in order to realize the untapped potential within our youth," he said.
The labor leader also urged Nigerians to hold their leaders accountable, saying that the days of impunity and rampant corruption must end.
He urged all Nigerians to fully participate in the political process, holding elected officials accountable to the highest levels of ethics and performance.
"In the spirit of this year's independence, we must go beyond asking why we have found ourselves in a cesspool of poverty and despair. We must also develop a determination to halt this inexorable march to the cesspit and morass of excruciating pains and impoverishment."
“The citizens have a strong role to play in our collective quest for freedom from the shackles of mindless exploitation and pauperisation.
“Holding our leaders accountable is one of the very critical roles we must all play to free ourselves from the gyres of the oppressive forces of retrogression. It is the highest form of participation in the democratic space; if we cannot hold our leaders to account for every of their action then, we lose our democracy and we lose our nation.
“It therefore remains our patriotic duty for those that truly love our nation to rise at this time and speak truth to power. This is to ensure that the salvation of our nation becomes real and our people from the North, the West, South and the East are able to enjoy the full benefits of their “Nigerianness” which holds a great promise, “ Ajaero said.
The leader, while noting that NLC was the voice of Nigerian workers, said that it had tirelessly championed and would continue to champion the rights and welfare of Nigerian workers and people.
He said, however, the numerous challenges that persisted could not be overlooked.
“Issues such as unfair labour practices, inadequate safety standards, and insufficient protection for workers continue to plague our labor force. It is imperative that we work together to address these issues and create an environment where every worker can thrive, “ he said.