Recession: No pain, no gain Osinbajo tells Nigerians

Nigerians must endure the pains of a biting recession if the country would be better as there is no gain without pain.

This was stated by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo while receiving leaders of the Trade Union Congress and Nigerian Labour Congress who were on a protests, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, led by Bobboi kaigama and Ayuba Wabba respectively.

“There is no gain without some pain, there is no way you will eat an omelet without breaking an egg” Osinbajo said speaking in some form of parables.

This week Nigerians have taken t the streets to protest government policies which they say have led to suffering in the country. On Monday a huge protest by activists and civil societies was staged in major cities of the country, while the labour unions took to the streets on Thursday.

Africa’s once largest economy is undergoing a recession even as the government continues to albeit slowly work up a recovery and growth plan out of the biting economic crisis.

Osinbajo while addressing the labour leaders said the government was still consulting with different groups to get input on the plan and will soon be meeting with labour and union groups.

“There is so much we can do with the Nigerian economy we are gong to be consulting with the labour union and civil societies on our economic recovery and growth plan which we intend to launch this month.

“There is supposed to be a consultation on it so that we can take a look at the issues that are important especially to labour and civil societies and we can incorporate them into the plan” he said.

The Acting President restated that the Muhammadu Buhari led administration was committed to the wellbeing of its people which it has shown through the bailouts to states to enable them pay salaries even at a time when the country was loosing 60 percent of its revenue.

According to him the government was judiciously managing its lean resources to ensure it keeps up with it responsibilities as the country was operating “at less than 60% of revenues as at 2015, today”.

Addressing the concerns of the labour group, Osinbajo decried that some Nigerians were averse to the anti corruption fight which is helping the government save up its resources.

According to him every time you fight corruption the way we are trying to fight corruption, there is a major fight back, because “corruption in this country is wealthy, powerful, influential and it is in every aspect of our lives. It is in practically all institutions including religious institutions”.

The social media campaign of bring back corruption is an orchestrated one. Nobody that is suffering can say bring back corruption .

He encouraged Nigerians to speak up against corrupt officials and those who trying to derail the course justice.

On their demand that due be followed, Osinbajo said the country needs an honest leader and had that in Buhari.

“If the leadership of this country is not honest there is no way this country can survive.

“We will continue to go round the circle. things might be difficult today, but I am completely sure if we stay the course this country will not only get out of recession but always go to the path of sustainable development. If we don’t fight corruption all we are doing is a waste”.

He commended them you for taking their anti-corruption campaign to the villa on behalf of the Nigerian people.

Earlier, the NLC President in his remarks said the labour unions and their allies decided to visit the Presidential Villa as part of their protest on national action for good governance and the fight against corruption. He said the workers were concerned about good governance and systemic corruption.

They tendered an 18-point agenda to the Acting President as Wabba said workers will like to see a nation where public office holders forfeit assets that they refused to declare.

He also said they would like to see the anti-corruption war permeating down to all levels of government.

He also frowned at situation where state governments are owing workers’ salaries, saying, “all these must stop.”

“Public office holders must provide dividends of democracy to the Nigerian people,” he added.

Also, the TUC President said the organised labour and their civil society allies were prepared to support the fight against corruption.

“It is a fight every Nigerian must be part of. Government at all levels and arms should abide with rule of law, corruption should not be tolerated. We are here to identify with government in his resolve to fight corruption,” he said.