Communique At the end of the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of Labour Party (LP) held today 29th December, 2021

Communique at the end of the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of Labour Party (LP) held today 29th December, 2021 administered from the Party’s National Secretariat in Abuja, FCT via the Zoom platform with attendance nationwide, the following resolutions were reached unanimously:
1- NEC in session noted that the NEC meeting coincided with the one year remembrance anniversary in memory of our late national chairman, Alh Abdulsalam Abdulkadir (Baraden Paiko) who passed on 29th December, 2020. NEC recalled his valuable contributions to the growth and development of not just the Labour Party (LP), National Union of Teachers, NUT, the National Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC and indeed the entire Labour Movement in Nigeria. NEC used the occasion to for pray for the forgiveness of his sins.

2- NEC noted with disappointment that her governorship candidate in the just concluded Anambra State election who was kidnapped since 18th September, 2021 is yet to be set free by his abductors. NEC therefore, called on the security agencies to intensify efforts towards ensuring the release of OBIORA AGBASIMALO unhurt.

3- Labour Party is worried by the worsening and frightening insecurity in the country. The NEC is baffled by Government inability to find lasting solution to the challenges of insecurity in Nigeria. The NEC therefore advocates for the decentralization of the Nigerian Police Force to make way for State and Local Government Police.

4- NEC examines the proposed hike in the prices of petroleum product and electricity tariff; and opined that it has the effect of further impoverishing and pauperizing the people. It is baffling that the Federal Government has allowed the international price of crude oil to determine the cost of petrol for Local consumption. It is an irony for Nigeria to export crude oil at a lower rate and import petroleum product at a viciously high exchange rate. The NEC therefore calls on Federal Government to revamp our existing refineries, build new ones and supply them crude oil to refine for Local consumption at a fixed and reduced rates

5- NEC noted with ambivalence the refusal of Mr President to assent to the Electoral Act; and therefore call on the National Assembly to expunge the grey areas and quickly represent the bill to Mr President for Assent. NEC also noted that the 2010 Electoral Act is spent and can no longer be used for the 2023 General Election. Hence time is of essence.

6- The NEC observed that the high rate of inflation occasioned by the mismanagement of the economy have increased the high rate of unemployment, hunger and poverty. The inflation rate is noted to be 18.2 percent (a double digits inflation) which implication is the erosion of the Naira value. The NEC therefore call on the Federal Government to come up with innovative ideas, the enabling environment and policies to stimulate and create jobs.

7- Finally, NEC in session joins World Leaders to mourn the demise of a peace maker and a freedom fighter, Archbishop Desmond Tutu. NEC prayed for the repose of his soul.

Signed

Barr Julius Abure
National Chairman, Labour Party (LP)