By Umar Bayo Abdulwahab
Ilorin
A frontline labour leader, Comrade Issa Aremu, yesterday asked state governors who owe their workers arrears of salaries to immediately resign their appointments.
He said that any governor who could not pay workers their monthly salary as at when due are committing ‘economic-cide’, which according to him, equals deliberate strangulation of working people.
He said: “Whoever presides over ‘economic-cide’ has no moral right to remain in the business of running the affairs of the people.
Aremu tasked labour leaders at all levels and the impoverished workers to sack debtor- governors or they(labour leaders) themselves also vacate their positions.
The labour leader spoke with newsmen in Ilorin, Kwara state on the occasion of his 55th birthday.
He added: “Non-payment of salaries amount to ‘economicide’ that is unacceptable . ‘Economicide’ means deliberate strangulation of the working people through a denial of wage incomes that has led to untimely death of workers, withdrawal of their children from schools and mass poverty”.
Aremu also condemned the Senators over their insistence on buying new cars.
He said: “I agree with the Senate President Bukola Saraki that National Assembly should enhance its oversight function. But those who ask for equity should come with cleaners hands. Who oversees the senators when they are buying new cars in an economy that is totally depressed?
“Nigeria needs angry leaders like Buhari not hungry dealers like some senators that are engaging in self helps rather than national service.
“Senators should emulate president Buhari and tow the path of prudence and selflessness”.
He commended President Muhammadu Buhari over the 2016 appropriation bill.
“If the spirit and content of the 2016 budget is fully implemented, Nigeria is undoubtedly on the match to economic recovery and renaissance once again”, he added.
