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Labour Congress hinges increasing crime rate on youth unemployment

By Gloria Ehiaghe
03 October 2017   |   3:22 am
President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Lagos State chapter, Comrade Idowu Adelakan, has attributed the high rate of crime in the country to the high level of unemployment, especially among the youths.

Lagos State chairman of NLC, Idowu Adelakun. PHOTO: GETTYIMAGES

President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Lagos State chapter, Comrade Idowu Adelakan, has attributed the high rate of crime in the country to the high level of unemployment, especially among the youths.

He said the rate of crime, which has snowballed in recent times, was the result of unemployed graduates roaming the streets and causing insecurity in the country.

Adelakan, who spoke in an interview with The Guardian on Nigeria’s 57th independence anniversary, stated that the present administration was yet to leverage on its promises to tackle the rate of unemployment and increased welfare packages for workers.

“As such, nothing calls for celebrating the country’s independence anniversary since some states are still unable to comply with the minimum wage of N18, 000. Most states were still owing workers and pensioners their salaries,” he said.

Due to the clamour for salary increase for workers, he said: “As far as we are concerned, the governors are not willing to pay and it is not because they cannot payee. We believe they can pay. They only believe in awarding contracts, which is their major priority.”

With expectations from government to deliver on its promises, especially now that the country has exited recession, Adelakan said: “Government should pay more attention to the welfare of workers.

“Even as we are crying till now, the legislators have refused to reduce their own salaries, the governors salaries are still the same and the political office holders are still collecting their huge salaries and allowances. It is only the workers that are at the receiving end. We voted them into power and so they must deliver,” he said.

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