President of the National Union of Civil Engineering Construction, Furniture and Wood Workers, Amechi Asugwuni has lamented that no fewer than 70,000 workers in the construction industry are out of jobs due to the economic decline and inadequate development of infrastructure in the country.
Asugwuni said that such huge number of workforce are out of jobs because there are no major ongoing capital projects in the country.
The union president said that except there is an immediate reactivation of abandoned projects, it would be difficult for the companies to keep their workers.
“There is no way the government can create jobs without focusing on infrastructure development.
“It is sad that job creation is not feasible because there are no ongoing projects.
“The few existing jobs are casualised. This is not good for the growth of the economy.
“Casual workers do not pay tax and tax is part of what is used for the development of infrastructure.
“Lack of infrastructure development is a minus for the country’s quest to create jobs and grow the economy.”
Asugwuni criticized the infrastructural deficit in the country and advised President Muhammadu Buhari to address the problem in order to curb crime and reduce poverty in the country. [myad]
