“Align properly with FG’s economic reforms”, former LCCI DG charges labour

UFOMBA UZUEGBU

Renowned economist, Dr. Muda Yusuf has appeal to organized labour in the country to be more tolerant in their actions particularly on issues of liberalization of the nation’s economy.

Yusuf, the Chief Executive Officer, Centre for promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE) and a former Director General of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) alleged that organized labour unions are blocking major economic reforms of state and federal governments.

He stated these in a paper presented at the workshop for labour reporters in Abeokuta, Ogun State at the weekend, titled, “The Role of SMEs in Tackling Rising Unemployment in Nigeria”.

He said “Liberalization of the Federal Government had opened up the nation’s economy in the past which made different telecommunication operators to compete for the share of the industry.

He charged labour to properly align with the economic reform processes of the government, stressing also that ‘Organized labour must be more tolerant on economic policies to be able to create more jobs, accelerate economic development while reducing unemployment’.

Continuing, he said “I am not saying that labour must take everything, line hook and sinker, but they should be more thorough, they should be more analytical and more evidence-based in either supporting or opposing any economic reforms so that this country will not suffer for it.

Yusuf also said’, “What I observe is that most times, there are lots of emotions and sentiments and mostly trying to be on the unpopular side of good decisions when it comes to economic reforms.

“This is the area labour needs to look at critically so that they don’t make the economy unsustainable.

“We will come and go but our children and grand children will come and ask us what we have done, we should be able to give accounts of our deeds”.