Eid-al-fitr: Labour demands sacrifice from leaders, Nigerians to rid country of violences

As the Muslims in Nigeria joined others across the world to celebrate Eid-al-fitr today, Organised Labour has tasked both the leaders and citizens to make necessary sacrifice to rid the nation of the current grave insecurity.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Ayuba Wabba in his Eid-al-fitr message said everyone in the country must be prepared to make the needed sacrifice to rid the country of the expanding wave of violence in every part of Nigeria. 
“We must hear something, see something, say something and do something with every sense of love and patriotism in order to reclaim our dear motherland from the cataclysmic periphery that the enemies of Nigeria want us fall headlong into,” he said. 
Wabba noted that this year’s Eid-al-fitr takes place at a time that the country is plagued by the fiery storms of insecurity, economic recession and social setbacks with very grievous consequences for Nigerian workers. 
He expressed that the Congress at its 2nd National Summit on Peace and Security, has seen Nigerians from all walks of life and professional calling unanimous in their assessment of the security crisis in Nigeria that something drastic must be done to stem this evil tide before it consumes all of us. 
He stated that the organised labour have faith in the prayers of the Muslim Ummah during this Ramadan that the siege of insecurity in Nigeria will be a thing of the past very soon.
He said, “The Nigeria Labour Congress joins millions of our comrades in the Muslim Ummah to commemorate this year’s Eid-al-fitr. We felicitate and congratulate the Nigerian Muslim community for successfully concluding the spiritual exercise of fasting and prayers in the holy month of Ramadan. “As the world recovers from the impact of COVID-19, our Muslim brothers and sisters kept the faith and fulfilled the obligations associated with the Holy month of Ramadan. Certainly, the reward of the faithful will bring fulfillment for your efforts and sacrifice.”
The NLC President said labour also use the season of the conclusion of Ramadan to remember and salute members of the Armed Forces – the military, the police, the para-military agencies and the intelligence community – for their sacrifice, courage and commitment in the fight against terrorism and other forms of violent crimes. 
According to him, many of them have paid the supreme price in this fight. “We pray for the repose of the souls of all the faithful departed and for God to grant comfort to the families our slain security operatives left behind. We also use this occasion to urge our security operatives not to relent. 
“To whom much is committed, much is also expected!”
He said that as labour had canvassed during the recently held National Summit on Peace and Security, “we urge the Federal Government to take the crisis of insecurity in the country more seriously.”
The labour leader further called for serious oversight over security votes and appropriations in Nigeria, stating that a good fight against insecurity must be founded on accountability given the need to mobilize public confidence, goodwill and commitment in breaking the backbone of those bent on imposing a state of anarchy on Nigeria.
He added, “We call on government to prioritize human and social security as the fulcrum of sustainable peace and progress. 
“We demand that State Governors still hesitant to pay the National Minimum Wage and Governors sacking and retrenching workers should stop constructing the ecosystem for insecurity and instability. Enough is enough! In the same vein, we reject and condemn recent statements on plans to slash workers’ salaries. 
“That would be antithetical to the spirit of Eid-al-fitr. At this time, Nigerian workers deserve and demand an increase in salaries.”
He stated that, Nigerians at the last Eid
were almost overwhelmed by the ravaging pangs of the novel corona virus pandemic and there seemed to be no help in sight. 
“We are grateful that our prayers are answered and there are now vaccines against the virus. I urge every Nigerian particularly workers to take advantage of the vaccine in order to keep the virus at bay,” he said.