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By Bimbola Oyesola
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has charged leaders in government to serve selflessly rather than heaping heavy burdens on the people.
NLC president, Joe Ajaero, said those in government must allow the spirit of Christmas and that of the festive season to lead them in all their policies and actions.
“Jesus served his followers selflessly and we hope that our leaders at all levels will emulate this and serve Nigerians selflessly. Instead of heaping heavy burden on the people, it is important that they seek creative measures that will lift the present humongous suffering from our shoulders,” he said.
Ajaero stated that instead of handouts, Nigerians expect concrete actions with solid results.
He noted that in a year marked by challenges and uncertainties, the Organised labour found solace and strength in the enduring spirit of hope, love, and the teachings of Jesus Christ. He charged Nigerians that it is important to be buoyed by the belief that as a people working together, victory will come their way no matter the quantum of trials.
He said, “Despite the difficulties that many of us have faced and continue to endure, let us remember the essence of Christmas – a time of reflection, gratitude, and the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.
“His teachings emphasize love, compassion, and the enduring power of hope even in the face of adversity. We must do everything to love ourselves as workers and as a people. It is only in dwelling in unity that we can build the needed strength to for a better nation.”
According to the Congress boss, “one of the best ways to demonstrate love is to have an understanding that we are one. We are workers and we are the masses.” He expressed that Nigerian workers and the masses are bound together by oppression, fear, deprivation, misery, poverty and helplessness.
He reasoned that this perception will become so powerful that it molds and builds the people into a powerful force that cannot be broken, “which can then be used to create liberty and free ourselves from the shackles of the forces of retrogression.”
Unity among the people
He urged Nigerians against division along any lines be it ethnic, religion or communal lines, stating that the season “must teach us that we are one!”
Calling for unity, Ajaero opined that it is in the moments of unity that the citizens could find the strength to overcome challenges, maintaining that Nations are built when the people decide to stand together and work in unity and in love.
“It is difficult to build the kind of nation we want if we continue seeing ourselves as different in anyway or form,” he said adding that this is what has allowed unpatriotic elements to hijack the nation’s governance which they have continually used to negate the interests and desires of the people and the country.
“This season must lead us to resolve to build a new nation by mending every crack that has allowed the enemies of the people to take undue advantage of us and hold down the nation perpetually in the morass of underdevelopment,” he emphasised.
The NLC President assured Nigerians going through difficulties that there is glimmer of light adding that together all can overcome challenges and build a more resilient and compassionate society.
He however charged that Christmas is not only a time for festive joy but also an opportunity to reflect on “our blessings and share them with others.”
“We cannot love others if we do not love our nation. The love of the nation must be tied in loving others and ourselves. If we love our nation, we must then be led by those principles upon which great nations are built,” he insisted.
Ajaero stressed that Nigerians should be allowed to win in accordance with the teachings of Christ because it is the essence of leadership.
He said, “It is only in allowing transparency and good conscience in governance that effective results can be delivered to the people. Beggaring the people insults their sensibilities but creating effective platforms to enable the people unleash their robust energies for wealth creation is what the people are asking for and this to our minds is not rocket science.
“Our leaders should therefore seek to put smile on our faces and pursue things that offers hope to the people and not policies that demoralizes and eviscerates.”
