The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has warned government not
to postpone the oncoming election, saying that it is not the solution to
the nation’s insecurity.
The NLC urged the Federal Government to immediately put in place a favourable environment for the conduct of the elections.
In a statement signed by its Geneecretral Sary, Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson and made available to The Nation in Abuja, the umbrella body of Nigerian workers said it will not agree with those calling for the postponement of the elections.
The statement reads: “Recently, the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki, citing security concerns, urged the government to postpone the general election.
“Some organizations and individuals have since lent their voices in support of a shift in date of the polls amidst equally vociferously dissenting voices which accused the government of orchestrating the postponement campaign, with some going as far as saying that government would rely on litigation and or street protests to achieve its objective.
“While we at the Congress appreciate the security situation in the country, especially in the Northeast, we stand to be counted on the side of those who argue for holding of elections on their prescribed dates.
“Certainly, the dangers in the land are unmistakably real. Nonetheless, we do believe, there are greater dangers in a postponement. For instance, what assurance do we have that the security situation will improve in the next couple of months?
“Secondly, a postponement has the potential of lending credence to circulating allegations of manipulation by government. But beyond all this, the 1999 Constitution is clear and unambiguous about when and how elections are to be conducted and every effort should be made to meet with the provisions of the constitution.
“In light of the foregoing, we urge the government to speedily create an enabling environment for holding of elections in every parts of Nigeria in fulfilment of government’s promise to the citizenry of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
The NLC urged the Federal Government to immediately put in place a favourable environment for the conduct of the elections.
In a statement signed by its Geneecretral Sary, Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson and made available to The Nation in Abuja, the umbrella body of Nigerian workers said it will not agree with those calling for the postponement of the elections.
The statement reads: “Recently, the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki, citing security concerns, urged the government to postpone the general election.
“Some organizations and individuals have since lent their voices in support of a shift in date of the polls amidst equally vociferously dissenting voices which accused the government of orchestrating the postponement campaign, with some going as far as saying that government would rely on litigation and or street protests to achieve its objective.
“While we at the Congress appreciate the security situation in the country, especially in the Northeast, we stand to be counted on the side of those who argue for holding of elections on their prescribed dates.
“Certainly, the dangers in the land are unmistakably real. Nonetheless, we do believe, there are greater dangers in a postponement. For instance, what assurance do we have that the security situation will improve in the next couple of months?
“Secondly, a postponement has the potential of lending credence to circulating allegations of manipulation by government. But beyond all this, the 1999 Constitution is clear and unambiguous about when and how elections are to be conducted and every effort should be made to meet with the provisions of the constitution.
“In light of the foregoing, we urge the government to speedily create an enabling environment for holding of elections in every parts of Nigeria in fulfilment of government’s promise to the citizenry of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
READ ALSO: Political Parties Refuse To Election Postponemen It will be recalled that the
Nigerian presidency and the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] have planned
how to instigate protests against the Independent National Electoral
Commission [INEC] as a way of forcing the commission to postpone the
February 14 and 28 general elections except there is a change in plans
of both parties an exclusive report by Premium Times states.
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