Boko Haram attacks: Reconsider your trip to the US, NLC tells Buhari

EZUGWU OBINNA

In the wake of the growing attacks by the Boko Haram terrorist group, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to think twice about his proposed visit to the United States of America later this month.

The General Secretary of Textile and Garment Workers Union and one of the deputy presidents of the congress, Comrade Issa Aremu, gave the advice in a statement on during the national executive council meeting of Nigerian Affiliates of Industrial Global Union held on Wednesday July 8, 2015 in Lagos. He cautioned the president against following the footsteps of his predecessors which according to him, was not helpful in the anti-terrorism war

“President Buhari must have a second look at his proposed visit to America under the condition of serial terror attacks. Buhari should not follow the unhelpful roads of his predecessors who spent more time attending wasteful summits abroad when the jobs at home suffer.”

“African leaders must definitely think global, but they must act local. They must implement the wish list of the African electorate not the agenda of foreign powers and donors who put us in the mess in the first instance. AU needs original initiative in Africa not in Washington and Paris. We must act local and think global, not running around the globe instead of staying at home,” Aremu said

He further called on labour leaders to rise in support of government efforts toward curtailing terrorism in the country, noting that security was too important to be left for politicians only.

“Security too important to be left to the politicians, labour must rise to support genuine government efforts to combat the vicious cycle of violence.”

He also called for the implementation of the resolutions of the 2014 National Conference on matters of security but kicked against creation of more states in the country.

“Implement the resolutions of the national conference 2014 on national security. Invite states where matters of national security challenges originate to the meeting of the National Security Council.”

“Hold National Security Council meetings quarterly except in times of emergency, establish an independent, multi-disciplinary national security think tank. The government should provide protection strictly to state officials at state expense. Other signatories requiring such services should co-ordinate provision of such services including the deployment and collection of charges.”

“Membership to the State Security Council should comprise; the governor of the state who should serve as the chairman of the council, deputy governor, military service commander, Commissioner of Police, director of State Security Service, representative of the State Police and the chairman of the traditional council.”

“No more creation of states since the existing states have proven to be bankrupt, it’s time we perished the idea of creation of more states. Implement the Local Government Peace and Security Committee at the local government level.

“Membership to this committee should comprise chairman of the local government council, representative from the State Security Service, head of traditional ruler, Divisional Police Officer (DPO), representative of the State Police, military representative, Secretary to the Local Government,” he recommended.