A labour stakeholder and former Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Rivers State, Comrade Ikechukwu Onyefuru, has called on governments at all levels to stop mixing politics with governance, warning that the practice is deepening poverty and worsening insecurity across the country.
Onyefuru, who spoke in an interview with our correspondent in Port Harcourt, described Nigeria as fundamentally sick, arguing that official economic indicators do not reflect the harsh realities faced by ordinary citizens.
He noted that although inflation is officially placed at about 14.5 per cent, the figure does not capture the severe erosion of workers’ purchasing power, stressing that even the middle class has been pushed closer to the poverty line.
“Whether inflation is one per cent or 14 per cent, it means nothing when workers cannot afford basic necessities. Many Nigerians can no longer afford one square meal a day. Hunger is widespread,” he said.
The former labour leader lamented that Nigeria has become a consuming nation rather than a producing one, adding that the country is exporting its skilled manpower due to poor working conditions, weak institutions and lack of opportunities. He cited the poor state of universities and hospitals, noting that professionals, including doctors, are leaving the country in search of survival.
On housing challenges, Onyefuru said landlords should not be blamed entirely for rising rents, explaining that weak salaries, poor business environment and high operational costs have made it difficult for workers to meet obligations.
He argued that government failure to provide enabling infrastructure such as power, water and transport has crippled businesses, limiting their ability to pay fair wages.
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According to him, insecurity across the country is also largely driven by hunger, unemployment and poor governance. He criticised the concentration of security personnel around political office holders, leaving ordinary citizens exposed.
Onyefuru further lamented the poor welfare of security personnel, revealing that many struggle to feed their families or pay school fees despite their sacrifices.
He called on government to prioritise governance over politics, create an enabling environment for production and business growth, and improve the welfare of workers and security personnel.
“If the right things are done, Nigerian security forces are capable of reducing insecurity to a level that is as low as reasonably practicable,” he said.
