The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Issa Aremu

  • Balarabe Musa, Aremu seek end to executive/legislature’s face-off

    …say Nigeria democracy mustn’t fall like Russia’s

    First Executive Governor of Kaduna State, Alhaji Abdulkadir Balarabe Musa and General Secretary Textile Union, Comrade Issa Aremu has asked members of the Federal Executive and National Assembly, to stop their face-off and demonstrate statesmanship in the interest of Nigeria.

    They made the call in Kaduna on Thursday, when Aremu, who is also a gubernatorial aspirant of Labour Party in kwara State paid Balarabe Musa a courtesy call at his residence in Kaduna on Thursday

    They said that, it is only if the two most important arms of government embrace ‘statemanship’ in place of ‘brinkmanship’ that democratic process in Nigeria can become sustainable.

    Balarabe Musa warned that, Nigeria’s democratic government must not be allowed to fall like the Russian communist government.

    He said, like the last Tuesday’s drama, the closure of the Russian parliament by the President was responsible for its government’s downfall. “and up till today, Russia has never being the same again, despite the fact that, members of the Russian parliament were more matured than our own National Assembly members”.

    He however called on Nigerians and those in position of authority to demontsrate high level of patriotism and statemanship in the interest of Nigeria’s democracy.

    Balarabe Musa however endorsed Comrade Aremu’s candidacy for 2019 gubernatorial election in Kwara, citing his commitment to struggle for social justice and development in Nigeria. “I support Comrade Aremu 99 per cent. I would have supported him 100 per cent if he runs on the platform of PRP.

    But Labour Party he chooses is part of progressive families committed to socialist transformation of Nigeria”.

    The Labour Party aspirant disclosed that he was inspired by the progressive record of Musa as the first executive governor of Kaduna state adding that “am an ideological and political son of Alhaji Balarabe Musa right from my university days”.

    Read Also: Buhari hails Balarabe Musa’s honesty

    Speaking earlier at the unveiling of the 40th Anniversary Logo of Textile Union, the frontline labour leader said the “addictive conflicts” between the legislators and the Federal Executive would undermine good governance and democracy.

    He said, Nigeria’s uninterrupted democracy in the last 20 years needed quality people who would stand for fundamental state principles of good governance as contained in 1999 constitution in place of what he called “politicians desperate for immediate pursuit of power and money”.

    Referring to the drama at the National Assembly following illegal prevention of some legislators on Tuesday, Comrade Aremu said the survival of the “smartest politicians” must give way to the survival of democratic process in Nigeria.

    He said democratic forces who fought for democracy must not allow the democratic process undermined by “selfishness and cheap carpet crossing”.

    The labour leader said it was time Nigeria implemented the resolutions of 2014 conference with reference to code of conduct for political parties, political party office holders on carpet crossing.

    He said section 68 (8) of Constitution (as amended), be further amended to “indicate that any elected official, executive or legislative, who carpet-cross, regardless of the reasons for such, shall automatically forfeit their seat. Such officials are however; free to contest for the position or indeed any other position on the basis of their new political party.

    Earlier the President of NUTGTWN, Comrade John Adaji disclosed that the 40th anniversary of the Union would hold from Tuesday 16th to Thursday 18th October 2018.

    Activities include Anniversary Rallies, Lectures, Exhibitions, fashion parade and gala nite/Anniversary Awards in major textile cities of Kano, Kaduna and Lagos.

  • Aremu unfolds governorship ambition in Kwara

    Former Deputy National President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Issa Aremu has declared intention to contest for the governor of Kwara State under the Labour Party (LP).

    Addressing party supporters, he said Kwara was lacking in development, adding that he would ensure the people enjoy dividends of democracy when voted to office.

    Aremu said that he would address the uncertainly in state, noting that the people were weighed down by poverty and mass hunger.

    He said: “With God guidance and your support, I hereby offer myself to lead the electoral process in liberating our hitherto promising Kwara State from underdevelopment, mass hunger and poverty.

    “I am honoured and humbled with your sacrifices to make today a reality. I am indeed delighted and grateful that we all turn out because of the legitimate concern we have for the development of our dear state and Nigeria

    “Today seems uncertain, God willing, tomorrow can and will indeed be better. Despite lack of money and pervasive income poverty, you have taken various means of transport like Okada, Keke and unworthy taxis through the notorious Ilorin roads to this place.’’

    Aremu said the government seems to legitimize wage theft especially of local government employees, contrary to the stipulation of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) work conditions.

    He maintained that the bail outs offered by President Muhammadu Buhari had not been judiciously reflected in the condition of the people.

    Aremu said: “In spite of the legitimate worries you still have time to come. Many appreciatively turn up at the shortest notice. I salute your patriotism and remarkable commitment towards a better Kwara, better Nigeria and better Africa.

    “All our worries about poor governance in Kwara call for action. Let’s get out of slumber and murmurs. Let’s organise and stop agonising.

    “The state was created on 27 May 1967, we are proud to be part of the first generation of states which include Rivers, Kano and Lagos states. Last year, first generation states celebrated 50th anniversary. Lagos and other states celebrated 50 with upbeat signature projects.

    He added: “But Kwara at 50 was ‘marked’ almost unnoticed by leaders who paradoxically celebrate their personal birthdays and weddings of their children like days and months long.  At 50 Governor Ahmed Fatai led administration listed unity, peace and development as the achievements of Kwara at 50.

    “Other listed achievements include the Federal, State and private universities, industries, an emerging aviation hub, advanced health facilities, modern recreational facilities, and comparatively good infrastructure. Why then the “low-key”  celebration?

    “Our state urgently begs for development and salvation from bad governance. The 2019 governorship election offers a unique historic opportunity to reclaim our dear state. I offer to lead my dear Kwara state through selflessness, statesmanship, entrepreneurship, compassion, managing diversity, equality, inclusiveness, sense of justice and fairness.”

  • ‘Buhari’s re-election in 2019 certain’

    The former Deputy National President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Issa Aremu and the Kwara state Coordinator of the Buhari Campaign Organization (BCO) Abubakar Suleiman on Thursday said that the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari’s re-election in 2019 general election is certain

    Aremu, a member of the Buhari campaign team added that what Nigeria needs at this time is coalition of all patriots for national development not just for power grabbing sake.

    Aremu said this in Ilorin during the official opening of the BCO secretariat, the Kwara State capital.

    Comrade Aremu chronicled various landmark achievements of President Buhari from 2015 up till date.

    Read Also: Buhari commissions Abuja light rail

    He said that Buhari had surpassed his predecessors in terms of quality service delivery.

    He described President Buhari as a labour friendly leader who thought outside the box by providing bailout in three consecutive times including Paris fund to all state governors for the payment of the backlog of their workers’ salaries.

    He said that the initiative was first of its kind in the history of the country.

    Aremu also commended the President Buhari for setting up Minimum wage Committee tobreview the N18, 000 minimum wages.

    He hinted that negotiations are ongoing and expressed confidence that the committee will come up with a good package for Nigerian worjers soon.

    Aremu noted that the President’s seal commitment in fighting corruption is encouraging and worthwhile adding that corruption is an extraordinary situation which requires extraordinary action the exact way President Buhari is handling it the country.

    Alhaji Sulaiman noted that 99 percent of Kwarans are behind the re-election of president Muhammadu Buhari in the forthcoming general elections in 2019.

  • Labour leader: Senate invasion, injury to Nigeria’s democracy

    A NEC Member of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Issa Aremu has condemned the invasion of the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly and disruption of the Senate plenary by unknown persons on Wednesday.

    Comrade Aremu said “an injury to the National Assembly is an injury to the nation’s democracy” adding that the “Federal government probe of the invasion should be prompt and conclusive with the objective of prevention of future acts”.

    The labour leader said the unfortunate senate event was a rude awakening to all for good governance with respect to security of lives and property as contained in 1999 constitution.

    Comrade Aremu said what the Senate just witnessed had been “the routine lots of many defenseless Nigerians” who are daily physically assaulted by criminals in homes, on the roads and in their communities.

    He said while nothing could justify thuggery at the Senate, the leadership of the National Assembly must also stop criminalizing dissenting views of democratically elected members.

    “The serial suspension of any members of the hallowed Chambers who hold contrary views amounts to legislative dictatorship which is also unacceptable in a democracy” he observed.

    Democracy is about cooperation as much as contestation and the National Assembly is the true symbol of both, he said.

    He however said that, the mass condemnation of the senate invasion was an indication that,  “there is a national consensus that democracy despite some of its shortcomings remains the best form of good governance and development for Nigeria.”

  • 2019: Buhari has right to seeks for second term – Textile workers

    The National Union of Textiles Garment Tailoring Workers of Nigeria on Tuesday said President Muhammadu Buhari has the constitutional right to seek for a second term.

    The General Secretary of the union, Comrade Issa Aremu said in a press statement in Kaduna.

    According to the union, the announcement by President Muhammadu Buhari of his intention to seek re-election in 2019 is largely a constitutional matter.

    “For us in the labour movement, the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria allows for two-term tenure for the President if elected; same for governors and open-ended for legislators,’’ Aremu stated.

    Read Also: Buhari salutes Ayo Adebanjo at 90

    He noted that President Buhari certainly has the right, under the 1999 Constitution, to seek re-election for second term in office.

    “Same Constitution allows all eligible citizens to exercise their rights to vote and be voted for.’’

    He said the controversy over why the president is contesting or not, was, therefore, unnecessary.

    The labour leader stated that the labour movement will exercise its constitutional rights to vote in 2019 based on critical assessment of all political office holders.

    NAN

  • Wakili: Nigeria has lost a patriot -Aremu

    The General Secretary National Union of Textiles, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN), Mr Issa Aremu on Saturday, described the death of Sen. Ali Wakili,(APC)-Bauchi), as a great loss to Nigeria.

    Aremu said in a statement issued in Kaduna, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria, that Nigeria had lost a distinguished patriot with his death.

    “I received with shock the death of my dear friend and Brother Sen. Ali Wakili.

    “I bear witness that he lived for all that will benefit fellow Nigerians and Africans.

    “Nigerian workers have truly lost a friend.  Shortly after assumption of the 8th National Assembly, Wakili began to call asking for relevant information on how to go about a new minimum wage for Nigerian workers,’’ he said.

    Read Also: Aremu advises African govts on workers’ rights, development

    Aremu said the best honor for the late compatriot was to deepen his efforts and struggle for a better Nigeria and Africa.

    “Let us organise and continue from where he left in alleviating our people out of want into prosperity.

    “”My condolences go to his family, the Senate President and distinguished Senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, all members of National Institute, the government and good people of Bauchi State and the entire nation for the irreparable loss.

    “May Almighty Allah grant him eternal rest in Aljana Firdausi,’’ he said.

    The News men report that Wakili, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Poverty Alleviation, died on Saturday in Abuja.

    NAN

  • Okei-Odumakin calls for more gender laws to protect women

    Okei-Odumakin calls for more gender laws to protect women

    Woman rights activist, Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, on Wednesday called for more laws to protect women from further attacks.

    Okei-Odumakin, who is the President, Women Arise for Change made the call in Lagos at the 2018 International Women’s Day celebration with the theme: “Press for Progress.’’

    The event was organised by All Nigerian Council for Women (ANCW) in various labour unions in the country.

    Reviewing attacks on women, the activist expressed concern that Nigerian women had continued to suffer various abuses because of inadequate laws to protect them.

    According to her, inadequate implementation of gender violence laws has made it difficult to abate violence against women in homes.

    “There should be gender parity and government at all levels must address the insecurity in the country as women and children are at the receiving end,’’ she said.

    Contributing, Mr Issa Aremu, President of Industrial Global Union urged women unite and ensure the protection of their rights.

    Aremu said political leaders should endeavour to deliver on good governance and improve common wealth rather than allow the populace to suffer.

    He said women were being disenfranchised in so many ways, adding that the economic status of Nigerian women must be transformed for the better.

    Aremu also said efforts should be made to protect the nation’s territorial integrity by ensuring the safety of all citizens.

    “The Federal Government should ensure that the kidnapped Chibok and Dapchi girls are rescued without further delay,’’ Aremu said.

    Mrs Oluchi Amaugo, Chairperson of the NUPENG Women Commission, said International Women Day’s celebration sought to recognise exploits and achievements of women.

    Amaugo said such recognition had acted as catalyst to spotlight gender equality.

    She also urged the women to continue to press for progress toward gender parity and fight against violence and harassment.

    She said that all women should continue to speak against killings and kidnappings of women and girls going on across the country.

    International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated on March 8 every year to commemorate the movement for women’s rights.

    The first observance of the Day was held on Feb.28, 1909 in New York, while March 8 was suggested by the 1910 International Woman’s Conference for the event to become an “International Woman’s Day.

    NAN

     

  • Unemployment figure shows crisis of governance

    Issa Aremu, General Secretary National Union of Garments and Textile Workers of Nigeria (NUGTWN) and Vice President of Industrial Global Union  (IGU), have said the latest unemployment figure indicated crisis of governance.

    Aremu said the latest figure by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) which said 7.53 million, out of Nigeria’s labor fource of 85.08 million are unemployed, once again confirmed the crisis of governance and underdevelopment in Nigeria.

    He said: “If we had the army of underemployed, the crisis of unemployment has assumed tragic proportions in form of various mass crimes as restless youths swell the ranks of kidnappers and insurgents.  All tiers of government must rise to promote development through re-industrialisation, uninterrupted electricity supply and war against smuggling, which have made the products of local industries uncompetitive”.

    He said there was an urgent need for a bipartisan employment drive in the country.

    “Sustainable jobs can only come from industry and massive public infrastructural development such as railways, roads construction, reinvention of public schools and hospitals. Mass unemployment means value-subtraction for Nigeria at a time when there is much work to be done and the nation is begging for growth and development,’’ he said.

  • NLC against proposed amendment of Pension Reform Act 2014

    NLC against proposed amendment of Pension Reform Act 2014

    The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) on Thursday kicked against the proposed amendment of the Pension Reform Act 2014 to exclude some agencies of government from the contributory pension scheme.

    Mr Issa Aremu, NEC member of NLC, made this known on Thursday in a statement issued in Kaduna.

    Aremu urged stakeholders on pension matters to reject the proposed controversial bill seeking to exclude members of the Nigeria Police, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Prison Service, Nigeria Immigration Service and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission from the Contributory Pension Scheme.

    He said the bill is sponsored by Rep. Oluwole Oke and has passed its second reading.

    “Pension reform Acts of 2004 and 2014 were outcomes of executive bills, which addressed the delicate interests of the pensioners, government and the economy.

    “In principle, a private member bill informed by narrow and vested interest consideration cannot do justice to all.

    The labour leader also said that any private member bill, which seeks to erode the gains of the 13-year-old Contributory Pension Scheme in terms of coverage and resource pool is “counterproductive” and should not be encouraged.

    Aremu said pensions of the nation’s working men and women in security services are better secured in a national contributory Scheme than the old “unfunded and unsustainable discredited ‘Defined Benefits Scheme’ ( DBS ).

    According to him, until the recent contributory pension reform “all stakeholders bore witness to ugly features of corruption, inefficiency and share looting”.

    He added that this characterized the old Defined Benefits Scheme ( DBS ), adding that to return to the old era would mean bringing back corruption to pension administration through the National Assembly.

    Aremu advised the National Assembly against what he called “the pitfalls of frequent self-serving out sourced amendments” of the Pension Act.

    He observed that the pension Act has just been amended through executive and all inclusive review two years ago.

    The labour leader said with all its globally acknowledged successes, the contributory pension covers only 7 million workers.

    Aremu lamented that to ask for exclusion of the security agencies will undermine the scheme with all the attendant negative implications for Nigerian economy just coming out of recession.

    He, therefore, called all members of the Assembly to reject the private bill, which will return pensioners to the bad old days of non-payment of pensions.

    Aremu urged legislators to through their oversight ensure appropriate budgetary appropriation for the accrued benefits arising from the old unfunded scheme is paid.

    He also said that 60 million workforce in both informal and formal private sectors and states civil services are covered in the compulsory Contributory pension scheme.

  • Governors who can’t pay salary should resign -Aremu

    Governors who can’t pay salary should resign -Aremu

    Former Vice President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Issa Aremu has said that any of the 36 States Governors who cannot pay the minimum wage of N18, 000.00 to workers, should resign from office.

    Aremu who is the General Secretary, National Union of Textile Garment Workers of Nigeria (NUTGWN) said such governor has no reason to be in the business of governance.

    He spoke Thursday as the Guest Speaker at the 18th Joint Annual General Meeting (AGM) 2015 edition of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN).

    The topic of the paper presentation was, “Government Patronage of Made –in-Nigeria Products, A Panacea for Industrial Growth and Development.”

    He argued that one of the ways to judge the performance of the sitting President and all the States governors is their ability to resuscitate the collapsed industries in the country.

    “Any State government that cannot pay salary has no reason to be in business of governance, and therefore, any governor that cannot pay the salary should resign,” Aremu said.

    He noted that Nigeria is sitting on the keg of gun powder, if its alarming rate of unemployment is not nip in the bud.

    He said, “Nigeria is playing with fire because 24 percent of its population is officially unemployed, and 50 percent unofficially unemployed. Some countries have a total of only 12 percent unemployment crisis, the people with on rampage. Nigeria must begin to prevent this by reopening all closed factories to engage the teeming unemployed youths.

    “Labour strongly supports the urgent need to rebuild Nigeria through targeted efficient massive productive spending. President Buhari must be weary of the emergency advisers who claim falsely that government has no business in business.

    “Government not only has business in business, the art of governance itself is a business that must be done.

    “Let me recommend Governor Mallam El Rufai to other states governors in this respect. I learnt that the moribund Kaduna furniture factory is almost back to produce thousands of school desks for public schools in Kaduna.

    “The Governor has also promised textile mills to produce school uniforms. And another organisation, Crittal Hope, is also back to life producing windows and needed metals to fix the class rooms.

    “We must re-energize “Buy Naija” Campaign to target large private sector corporates and the general consumer public on the need to patronize locally made goods for industrial development.

    “I urge President Buhari and the new Ministers of Industry, Trade and Investment, to implement the recommendations of 2014 Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan and the Committee on the Economy, Trade and Investment of the 2014 National Conference.

    “The two reports emphasis government patronage as a critical success factor in industrial growth and development,” he said.