The President of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), Mr. Festus Osifo, has urged the Federal Government of Nigeria to double security funding to tackle persistent killings, kidnappings and insurgency nationwide.
Addressing journalists at the end of the union’s National Administrative Council meeting on Wednesday in Abuja, Osifo commended the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) and National Security Adviser for their efforts in combating insecurity and apprehending suspected criminals.
He, however, stated that Nigeria has continued to face serious security challenges, particularly kidnappings and killings in several states, requiring stronger government intervention and increased funding.
“We know as a country that we are still faced with a huge level of insecurity and we are still faced with a huge level of challenges.
“Government should double its effort. Government should double the revenue going into fighting insecurity.
“The protection of life and property should be paramount to any government,” Osifo said.
The TUC President said that increased funding would enable security agencies procure modern equipment and other gadgets required to effectively confront terrorists, bandits and kidnappers.
He said that insecurity had persisted for more than a decade, making it difficult to attract foreign investments and discouraging economic activities, particularly farming in affected communities.
Osifo said that many farmers had stopped returning to their farms because of insecurity, thereby worsening food production and increasing pressure on food prices across the country.
“We have proposed at a time as Trade Union Congress of Nigeria that government should even carry out what we call virement of budget to move funds to that area,” he said.
According to him, government’s investments in roads, power and education are important, securing lives and property must remain its foremost responsibility.
“We must first of all be alive to enjoy the dividend of the infrastructures, to drive on those roads, to be able to feed and to send our children to school,” Osifo said.
Osifo also commiserated with families of Air Force personnel killed in a recent aircraft crash in Ondo State and condemned the deaths of 37 minors in Niger State, urging decisive action against culprits.
GIK/APA