The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has called on the Federal Government to accelerate the establishment of state police, arguing that political considerations should not prolong the security challenges facing Nigerians.
TUC President-General, Festus Osifo, made the call on Tuesday in Abuja while addressing journalists on economic and social issues affecting Nigerian workers.
Osifo said the government should collaborate with the National Assembly to expedite the constitutional and legislative processes required to establish state police and secure the support of state governments for the initiative.
He argued that politicians, who constitute less than 0.1 per cent of Nigeria’s population, should not be allowed to delay security reforms capable of protecting the majority of citizens.
“Nigeria is in a state of war today. When a nation is not secure, you cannot start talking about building hospitals, building roads,” Osifo said.
He also called for greater deployment of technology and modern equipment to strengthen the country’s security architecture.
On the economy, the labour leader said improvements in some macroeconomic indicators had yet to translate into meaningful relief for Nigerian workers.
Osifo said the naira, trading around N1,380 to the dollar, remained undervalued compared with what he described as a fair value of between N900 and N1,000 to the dollar.
According to him, a stronger naira would eventually help moderate inflation and reduce the prices of goods and services.
He also opposed any policy that would stop food imports before insecurity is resolved, arguing that farmers must first be able to return safely to their farms.
TUC backs aviation strike
Osifo expressed support for the ongoing industrial action by aviation unions, including the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSAN).
The unions are protesting alleged anti-union practices and the non-remittance of a five per cent ticket charge reportedly owed to workers and estimated at about N25 billion.
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He urged affected airlines to resolve the dispute to minimise disruptions to the aviation sector.
The TUC president-general also advocated greater private-sector participation in the management of Nigeria’s refineries.
He proposed that the government retain a maximum of 49 per cent equity in the facilities, saying this would help reduce political interference in commercial decisions and improve efficiency.
Osifo commended the Department of State Services (DSS) for recent arrests of suspected terrorists and bandits.
He also praised the Federal Government’s decision to increase military personnel salaries by between 50 and 80 per cent, but called for similar improvements in the remuneration and welfare of other Nigerian workers.
