The leadership of Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) felicitated Nigeria, as the it marks 19 years of unbroken democracy after return to civil rule from a long protracted military regimes.
According to statement released by its National President, Comrade Prince Williams Akporeha, said, “Just like yesterday, former Military Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, handed over power to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo on May 29, 1999. The day marked the beginning of Nigeria’s democratic Fourth Republic.”
He however said as a union that contributed painstakingly to this constitutional democracy which all enjoyed today having suffered intimidation, victimisation, harassment and other destructive activities from successive military regimes in the land, government should remain resolute in entrenching enduring democratic values and legacies.
“Again as we move into election year, we use this widely celebrated occasion to appeal to our politicians to imbibe the culture of sportsmanship and eschew politics of bitterness as only this can guarantee the unity of the country so that the efforts of the labour unions like the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) who stood for democracy will not go down in vain,” he said.
“More pointedly, government needs to express concerns over rising cost of food items and ensure food security in the country. Our government must equally put on its priority list mass employment opportunities for the youths in a bid to strengthen the democratic structure and reduce poverty plus other defiant behaviours among vulnerable segments in the society.
“It also need to show strong and unbiased commitment in the area of security of lives and properties of the citizenry and as well address deficits in social infrastructure, health care, education, power and ultimately uphold the rule of law and the principles of separation of powers in order to deepen the virtues and tenets of democracy in the interest of all.”