Labour flays FG, seeks action on massacres

•Na’Abba offers solution
Organised labour unions have flayed the Federal Government over its seeming failure to address the carnage in the country. They therefore asked the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to adopt drastic measures in stemming the tide.

Condemning the latest attacks in Plateau State, Labour said it is high time government acted decisively.

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and United Labour Congress (ULC) in separate statements called on the Federal Government to rise up to the occasion by arresting and prosecuting the masterminds of the attacks.

They noted that though the effort of the present administration to maintain peace was appreciated, adding: “But we must say that as long as the efforts have not yielded anticipated results, it will be taken that the government has not done anything. The Federal Government must not justify widespread insinuations.”

PENGASSAN’s National Public Relations Officer, Comrade Fortune Obi, implored government to deploy permanently a special military squad in Benue, Taraba and Plateau states.

He decried the statement by the spokesman of the Meyatti Allah that the killings were in response to the rustling of about 100 cattle in the area.

To the NLC President, Comrade Ayuba wabba, the duration of the attacks as well as the casualty figure and level of destruction was disturbing.

According to TUC President, Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama, and Secretary-General, Musa-Lawal Ozigi, the buck-passing and blame game by politicians leave the country more depressed and despondent.

According to them, the country is gradually showing signs of a failing state, adding: “We cannot continue to toe this path to perdition and expect to be adjudged serious by the comity of nations. We have severally decried the carnage but it appears the leadership has become numb to our pleas and cries to end the bloodletting.”

In his remarks, ULC President, Joe Ajaero, said the unabated massacres signpost a height of exacerbated insecurity challenge threatening the nation.

According to him, it is a clear demonstration of a total system failure in governance at all levels.

Meanwhile, the erstwhile Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Umar Na’Abba, has advised the Federal Government to properly engage affected communities and their leaders as a way out of the insecurity in the land.

Addressing journalists at the weekend in Abuja, he stated that the Buhari administration was not addressing communal clashes properly.

He said: “Communities are not being engaged and I think communities should have been engaged properly a long time ago. These conflicts have been raging even before this current administration.

“I think this government must be prepared enough to meet with most communities affected by these conflicts with a view to engaging them not on a one off, but on a regular basis.”