NLC tasks Electoral Reform committee

Soji Eze-Fagbemi, Abuja - 29.02.2008

PRESIDENT of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar, on Thursday called on the Electoral Reform Committee set up by President Umaru Yar’Adua to get serious and come up with reform measures that could end the vicious cycle of electoral rigging.

Speaking at the 30th anniversary lecture of the NLC entitled: “Thirty Years of Struggle: NLC’s Contribution to National Development,” Omar stressed the importance of electoral system, adding that the judiciary was not a substitute for evolving an electoral system with sufficient credibility and integrity.

“The nation needs to grapple with the challenge of developing a credible electoral system so that the whole electorate can choose leaders than leave the matter in the hands of some five judges,” he added.

He said the NLC remained committed to the struggle for electoral reform “because we appreciate that election rigging is an impendiment to progress and development.”

On the celebration of its 30 years, he said years down the road, “we are proud to say that we have been faithful to the vision of the founding fathers of the NLC, which is to build a fighting national organisation that can defend the rights and interests of workers and working people.”