Onshore-Off Shore Dichotomy: Labour cautions against moves

Labour leaders from oil producing States in Nigeria has cautioned that the renewed agitation for the re-introduction of the on-shore off-shore dichotomy portends great danger for the unity of the country describing it as uncalled for and unnecessary diversion. The labour leaders stated their position in a communiqué issue at the end of the Joint Meeting of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) Oil Producing States Forum held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital.

The six point resolution signed by the chairmen and secretaries of the NLC and TUC of the oil producing states posited that even the 13% oil derivation was inadequate and should be reviewed upward. The meeting tasked the Federal Government must be courageous enough to review out system of fiscal federalism such that states and local governments would be effectively motivated to grow their economies in their areas of comparative advantage rather than continue to depend on federal allocation.

The labour leaders blamed the poverty level, unemployment and insecurity in the country to many years of misrule and corruption and accordingly urged the Federal Government to demonstrate its determination, capacity and willingness to fight corruption being the bane of security in the country.