Textile workers accuse APC, PDP of corrupting democratic space

The National Union of Textiles, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of corrupting the country’s political space.

NUTGTWN, in a communiqué issued after its 31st Annual National Education Conference at the weekend, identified credible election devoid of money politics as the foundation for true democracy, good governance and sustainable development.

Signed by the president, John Adaji, and the secretary-general, Isa Aremu, the communiqué commended the organised labour and civil society organisations for partnering with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as observers and volunteers during the 2019 polls, despite challenges.

He urged them “to strengthen this process of collaboration through an urgent post-election assessment.”

The labour leaders, who recalled the strategic relevance of workers’ involvement in the political process, urged them to stand up against the monetisation of the nation’s political process in the future.

Aremu recalled the political role labour played for Nigeria’s Independence, nation building, against military rule and return to democracy while condemning attempts by any political party to continue to hold the nation captive through money politics and corruption.

“Though as many as 99 political parties are registered, Nigeria in reality, given the corrupt and monitised electoral process, has only one political party of the rich, for the rich and by the rich represented by the APC and PDP,” he claimed.

On the November 16 governorship polls in Kogi and Bayelsa states, Aremu, who is also a National Executive Council (NEC) member of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), called on INEC and other stakeholders to put necessary machinery in place for free and fair elections.

He expressed willingness to partner with INEC for quality control of the country’s democratic process.

The textile workers observed that “economic recovery would elude Nigeria until the country ends the persistent crisis of compensation of the working class through enhanced purchasing power which is only possible through the prompt and adequate payment of minimum and living wage for the employed workforce.”