NLC calls for national dialogue to address economic challenges
NAN-H-78
Dialogue
By Chinyere Bassey
Lagos, Sept. 21, 2016 (NAN) The factional leader of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Joe Ajaero, has called on the Federal Government to organise a national dialogue that would address the country’s economic challenges.
Ajaero, who fielded questions from journalists on Wednesday in Lagos, said that such a national dialogue should include the organised labour and civil society groups in the country.
According to him, Nigerians need concrete steps to rekindle their hope and help them stand together collectively to weather the economic storm.
The union leader said that the president should address the people to reassure them of government’s programmes and actions with guarantees of meeting stated timelines.
“This will help rebuild the people’s confidence and trust and make them buy into government’s policies and programmes.
“We appeal to the president to seek ways of restoring hope to the citizenry, to encourage them to stand together to confront the numerous problems.’’
Ajaero said that people wanted to see a positive change in the economy through a decline in the cost of goods and services.
“The people want to be assured that the price of what they bought today will not change. They want to see that new jobs are created or a guarantee that the spate of job losses have ceased.
“People want to buy foodstuff and utilities within their reach and functioning. We want to see the cost of transportation reduced and the economy turning around for the better,’’ he said.
Ajaero said that the present government was elected into power for the people to experience a departure from the decadence of previous governments. (NAN)
CHIN/COF/NKO
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(Edited by Oluyinka Fadare/ Nkechi Okoronkwo)