NLC seeks ban of jobs scratch cards sales

• Says high, mighty behind oil theft
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday
urged the government to stop the sale of
scratch cards to applicants for employment.
In a statement, its President, Comrade
Abdulwahed Omar and the General-Secretary,
Comrade Chris Uyot, said all application
process should be free and unencumbered.
“Congress frowns at governments’ agencies
milking applicants by way of asking them to
buy scratch cards, or pay needless sums at
banks knowing full well that they will not offer
jobs to these hapless applicants,” it said,
adding that the process is an affront on the
patience and patriotism of Nigerians in the
face of gross deprivation and poverty amidst
so much wealth.
The congress insisted that economic growth
must come with jobs, saying that in spite of
figures justifying economic growth,
unemployment rates have more than
quadrupled in recent years making not a few to
conclude that the country has never had it so
bad.
The labour chiefs said it was time the state re-
examined the total surrender of the economy
to foreign models that have not yielded the
desired results, adding that it has instead
created massive unemployment, bloody
conflicts, unprecedented crime waves and
other unpleasant consequences.
They said the private sector which is expected
to drive the process of economic development/
growth is weak, choosy, rabidly profit-oriented
and cannot guarantee shared prosperity among
Nigerians.
The congress rejected the levels of crude oil
theft, saying the vive has virtually left the
economy prostrate.
The Congress said it is amazed and shocked
that government’s promises of checking this
ugly trend have not yielded the desired result
“because of the involvement of the high and
the mighty.”
On the nation’s independence, NLC said that
the founding fathers had a vision at
independence which clearly went beyond
ceremonial, or flag independence, saying “their
vision encapsulated a productive economy,
socio-economic justice, peaceful co-existence
of which every Nigerian should be proud.”
NLC noted that 53 years after, some of the
changes have been traumatic.
Omar added that sectarian-cum communal
crises across the country have led to
unacceptable blood-letting as well as caused
massive displacements with potential for food
shortages and disunity.
The statement reads in part: “Congress
appreciates the challenges our security
agencies are facing in the course of
maintaining the peace during these moments,
but condemns in strong terms the incessant
and protracted senseless killings of helpless
and innocent Nigerians. The latest of these,
being the Apo killings and the murder of over
50 students in the College of Agriculture, Yobe.