By Victor Ahiuma-Young

ilorin—ORGANISED Labour has called for concerted efforts by  the three tiers of governments and other stakeholders to fight increasing poverty in Nigeria, to avoid social upheaval in Nigeria.

Labour

Speaking through the General Secretary National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, NUTGTWN , at the unveiling of Hajia Hamdalat Aremu Mosque at NUJ Secretariat, Ilorin, Issa Aremu, Labour warned that a situation where few rich Nigerians were getting richer while majority    of Nigerians were getting poorer, was a time bomb waiting to explode.

According to Aremu who is a Vice President IndustriALL Global Union, African region and member of the National Executive Council, NEC, of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, “All stakeholders in Nigeria project must work towards a more caring and kinder Nigeria.

The truth must be told: Few rich are productive who truly earn their means legitimately. With anti-corruption crusade, we now know that the so-called rich Nigerians have been exposed to be corrupt. What is worrisome is however that the few rich however defined are getting richer while majority  of Nigerians are getting poorer.”

He recalled that on December 11, the ILO launched the World Social Protection Report 2017-2019 in Abuja, the first time to take place in Nigeria, saying “Sadly Nigeria again comes as one of the countries whose 180 million people are left without social protection.

‘’Social protection is a set of policies and programs designed to reduce poverty and the race to the bottom and social anarchy. Social protection is a universal human right. Social protection includes benefits for unemployment, children, health, maternity, youths, students, old age, widows and widowers and the vulnerable in general.‘’