Factional National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ahmed Makarfi, has accused Nigerian workers of failing to insist and champion the enthroning of good governance, while focusing ‎instead on continuous increase of the national minimum wage.

He argued‎ that the country would have been better off and more Nigerians enjoying the dividends of democracy if Labour had focused on the big picture by insisting on the enthroning of good governance.

Makarfi, a former Governor of Kaduna State, also bemoaned a situation where the workers align with politicians and government of the day in engaging in slogans and cheap propaganda, warning that this has often led to the weakening of the credibility of the labour movement in the country.

“I have always advised workers not to concentrate on the minimum wage because inflation would make nonsense of any scheme put in place. I think it is best to insist on good governance because once that is in place, more people would benefit.”

President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba, in a keynote address lamented that politicians embark on wanton looting of the treasury to the detriment of the welfare of workers, arguing that it is indefensible that so many states are unable to pay salaries while the minimum wage remains abysmally low.

He stated that the country is richly endowed in human and material resources, with potentials to be amon‎g the wealthiest in the world but lamented that corruption had made Nigeria prostrate.

Makarfi and Wabba spoke at the Bridge Builders Award organised on Wednesday in Abuja by the National Orientation Agency (NOA) in conjunction with Love To The World Initiative, a non-governmental organisation (NGO).

Former Head of State and chairman of the occasion, General Yakubu Gowon, in his remarks stressed the need for love and unity as a foundation for attaining progress and development.

Gowon, who was honoured with 36 others and groups, particularly commended the NOA and CEO of Love To The ‎World Initiative, Ms Josephine Anumbor, for pioneering the Bridge Builders Award aimed at promoting peace, love and unity in the country.

‎“I am strongly of the belief that for the future of our nation to be assured, we must strive to build the legacies of peace and unity. I must therefore challenge our religious, political and traditional institutions to endeavor to teach and promote the tenets of peace and unity of our country,” Gowon said.

“We all must shun inciting words and statements in whatever shape form, and invest greater energy in our quest to strengthen our resolve for a more united and peaceful Nigeria and Africa,” he added.

•Photo shows Senator Makarfi.

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