The National Union of Civil Engineering, Construction, Furniture and Wood Workers has described unemployment as one of the greatest problems facing the country.
The union said this in a communiqué issued after its fourth Quadrennial Delegates, Conference, which held in Owerri, Imo State.
Commenting on employment generation, the union said, “The conference in session notes that unemployment is one of the greatest problems facing this country and commends the efforts of the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment to encourage local and foreign private investors on job creation.”
To boost job creation, it called for more concession to be granted on essential imported raw materials that could be locally sourced by manufacturing companies to jumpstart the economy “as this will enable them generate more jobs in the country”.
It also stressed the need for the Federal Government to be more practical in its focus on the agricultural sector “as a way to enhance employment and job creation, stimulate food security and alleviate poverty as well as reduce crimes”.
The union added, “The conference in session recommends that government should evolve a social security package for these unemployed youths as it is being done in other countries.”
In the communiqué, the union also expressed concern over what it said was government’s refusal to pay for contracts certified completed.
“The conference in session expresses worries on challenge that is facing the industry with the government’s’ refusal to pay debts on financial contractual agreement with the contractors. Consequently, the conference in session notes that this has led to disruption of capital projects and contractors moving out of sites for lack of funds and the attendant job losses,” it said.
NUCECFWW, which observed that government’s failure to adequately fund public education was a serious impediment to the development of the sector, urged the Federal Government to review the Universal Basic Education system at both the national and state levels.
It explained that through the provision of infrastructural facilities such as classrooms, libraries, chairs and tables, teaching aids and books for the teachers and the pupils, government could reduce the number of school dropouts, who later turn to street urchins in the country.
Concerning taxation, the communiqué said, “The conference in session describes the income tax system in the country as inadequate. The conference in session demands that our income tax laws be realistically reviewed with the focus on the relief system to be in correlation with the current economic realities in the country.”
It observed that the recent imposition of taxes on its member companies, especially quarry companies, by some local and state governments amounted to multiple taxation and that it had adverse effects on the companies affected.
“Multiple taxations send a wrong signal to the local and international investors who may be interested in developing the quarry aspect of the nation’s natural resources,” it warned.
Consequently, it directed “the machineries of the union to use all means within our power to take the affected governments up on the issue”.
The union, which condemned the “state of insecurity in the country”, called on agencies charged with orientation and enlightenment to intensify their efforts at getting youths to channel their energies towards national development by shunning crime.
It called on all security institutions and law enforcement agencies to go for necessary training and be fully equipped for efficient intelligence gathering, vigilance and swift response to security.