NLC, TUC not fair to Tinubu after receipt of CNG buses – Arewa Think Tank

From Noah Ebije, Kaduna

The Convener of Arewa Think Tank, Muhammad Alhaji Yakubu, has faulted what he described as the unfair treatment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), insisting that the Federal Government deserves recognition for its interventions aimed at improving the welfare of Nigerian workers and ordinary citizens.

Yakubu said it was unfortunate that organised labour appeared more interested in criticising the President than in acknowledging and communicating the numerous interventions being undertaken by his administration to cushion the economic difficulties confronting Nigerians.

He specifically cited the Federal Government’s provision of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses to organised labour, alongside financial support for fuelling, as evidence that the Tinubu administration had not abandoned Nigerian workers.

The Arewa Think Tank Convener spoke against the backdrop of the disagreement between NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, and his TUC counterpart, Comrade Festus Osifo, over the Federal Government’s interventions and the whereabouts and utilisation of the buses allocated to the labour organisations.

Yakubu maintained that it was unfair for labour leaders to continually heap blame on President Tinubu without giving adequate attention to the positive steps being taken by the Federal Government.

According to him, the President may not be the type of leader who makes noise about every government intervention, but that does not mean he is not working.

“President Tinubu is a quiet achiever. He is not necessarily the type of leader who will come out every day to blow his trumpet or engage in unnecessary publicity. He believes in working, taking decisions and allowing the results of governance to speak for themselves.

“The problem, however, is that when government makes interventions, some of the people who should help communicate these achievements to Nigerians appear more interested in criticising the President. This is not fair to him or to the Nigerian people,” Yakubu said.

He wondered why the NLC and TUC would not devote equal energy to informing Nigerian workers and the general public about the benefits of government interventions, instead of allowing their disagreements with the Federal Government to dominate public discussions.

Yakubu particularly expressed concern that the provision of CNG buses and fuelling support to organised labour had not received the level of public appreciation and positive communication it deserved.

He said the Federal Government’s decision to provide buses for workers was a practical intervention intended to ease transportation challenges, reduce commuting costs and improve the welfare of Nigerian workers.

“If the Federal Government provides buses to organised labour and also makes provision for fuelling support, what does that tell you? It shows that the government is thinking about the welfare of workers. These are not ordinary gestures; they are practical interventions that should be acknowledged.

“Why should the labour centres concentrate almost entirely on finding faults with the President while saying so little about what the government is doing to make life easier for Nigerians?” he queried.

The Arewa Think Tank Convener further argued that the recent controversy over the CNG buses should provide an opportunity for the labour organisations to demonstrate transparency and accountability, rather than turn the matter into another platform for political attacks against the Federal Government.

He said that if there were questions about the distribution, management or utilisation of the buses, the appropriate thing would be for the labour organisations concerned to provide clear explanations to the Nigerian public.

Yakubu added that the buses were provided for the benefit of workers and should therefore be deployed in a manner that delivers the intended benefits.

“These buses belong to the workers in the sense that they were provided for their welfare. Nigerians deserve to know how these interventions are being utilised. The NLC and TUC should be able to tell workers what has happened to the buses, where they are operating and how many people are benefiting from them.

“Accountability should not be selective. If we demand accountability from government, labour organisations must also be willing to account for resources and facilities entrusted to them for the benefit of workers,” he stated.

Yakubu also urged the two labour centres to put aside their differences and work constructively with the Federal Government, stressing that constant confrontation would not solve the economic challenges facing Nigerian workers.

He noted that the Tinubu administration inherited several economic challenges and had embarked on difficult but necessary reforms, adding that such policies should be assessed objectively and not solely through the lens of political disagreements.

According to him, Nigerians need constructive engagement, practical solutions and responsible leadership from all stakeholders, including organised labour.

“Nobody is saying that the government is perfect or that Nigerians are not facing economic difficulties. We understand the challenges. But criticism must also be balanced with recognition of genuine efforts. You cannot ignore everything a government is doing and expect the public to have a complete picture of what is happening.

“The NLC and TUC should not allow their disagreements or political sentiments to overshadow the need to work together for the Nigerian people,” he said.

He further called on labour leaders to become partners in national development by educating their members and the general public about government policies, interventions and opportunities that could improve their living conditions.

Yakubu maintained that the President should be judged not only by the noise surrounding political controversies but also by the policies, programmes and infrastructure being implemented by his administration.

He urged Nigerians to develop the habit of examining government activities objectively, rather than relying exclusively on negative narratives.

“President Tinubu is working, and Nigerians should be encouraged to examine the facts. We must learn to appreciate positive steps even when we have disagreements over certain policies. A country cannot make progress when every government action is condemned and nothing positive is acknowledged.

“Our position at Arewa Think Tank is that organised labour should speak more about what the Federal Government is doing for Nigerian workers and the masses. Let the people know about these interventions. Let the government be held accountable where necessary, but let it also receive credit where it deserves credit,” Yakubu declared.

He reiterated that Arewa Think Tank would continue to support constructive policies and initiatives capable of promoting national development, economic stability and improved welfare for Nigerians, while encouraging all stakeholders to contribute positively to the progress of the country.

Yakubu also took note of the recent remarks by the Emir of Kano, His Highness Muhammadu Sanusi II, acknowledging improvements in Nigeria’s economic outlook under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

The Emir’s assessment, delivered at the Oxford Global Think Tank Conference convened by Arunma Oteh, highlighted developments in economic growth, inflation management, foreign reserves and export diversification.

Sanusi, a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), stated that President Tinubu’s administration deserved recognition for bringing the economy back from the brink, despite the considerable challenges confronting the country.