NLC tells Jonathan to Call Asari Dokubo to order

The Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, has called on President  Jonathan to assure Nigerians that he is fully in charge of affairs in the country by bringing the likes of Asari Dokubo- public figures who make inciting comments and cause problem in the country- to order.

The Vice President of the NLC, Issa Aremu, said this at a rally organized by the congress in Kaduna on Thursday.

Mr. Dokubo, a former militant leader in the Niger Delta had threatened chaos in the region if President Goodluck Jonathan was not re-elected in 2015.

Mr. Aremu also said that all state governors, regardless of party affiliation, must come together and solve the problem of insecurity in the country. He added that the NLC will never support any force that is out to undermine the unity of Nigeria.

“There cannot be sustainable development without peace, the President must sit up. Today, governors are fighting the President and the President is also fighting the governors. Have you ever heard them fighting over closed industries?

“See what is happening in Bama and Baga, not even during the civil war did we have this kind of problem. Jonathan needs to go to the House and address us on the state of the nation. He was in South Africa where he addressed them without letting us know what is happening at home. The President must show us that he is in charge, otherwise he should resign,” Mr. Aremu said.

He expressed dismay over the continued closure of the Kaduna Textile Limited, KTL, since 2002 and

called on the Northern State Governors to reopen the company. He said more worrisome was the continuous delay in settlement of entitlement of the KTL workers, adding that the workers are suffering untold hardship due non-payment of their benefits since the factory’s closure.

He said, “The union, since December 2005, obtained a court judgment for settlement of the entitlement of the workers amounting to about N687million. Unfortunately, the management and owners of the company have remained insensitive to the plight of these workers in spite of repeated appeals, prayers, rallies and protest by the union.

“In March 2013, the NGF (Northern Governors Forum) set up a committee of five Governors headed by the Governor of Kwara state, Alhaji Abdullahi Ahmed with Governors of Zamfara, Kano, Bauchi and Borno states as members. The Committee was mandated to look at KTL and proffer recommendations on the way forward. The report of the committee is yet to see the light of the day.

“The Union also visited the Chairman of the Board of KTL, Gen. Wushishi (Rtd) in March 2013 on the way forward, when the company would re-open or when the workers entitlements would be paid, but he could not give a concrete response.”