Former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, on Tuesday met with President of the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, Ayuba Wabba, and other Labour leaders.
The meeting held at the International Convention Centre, in Abuja at the ongoing 12th National Convention.
Atiku, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate will slug it out with President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
A statement by his Special Assistant on Public Communications, Phrank Shaibu, noted that Atiku, who wishes all the delegates a successful event, warned them against voting for President Muhammadu Buhari on February 16.
Atiku was quoted as saying: “As we know all too well, since 2015, our workforce has shrunk by over 14 million.
“And this from a President who promised he would create 3 million jobs a year, but with over four years, should have reduced unemployment by 12 million.
“So, 14 million jobs lost and 12 million net new jobs not created, comes to a deficit of 26 million versus what he promised us in 2015.
“If job losses continue to grow for the next four years at the same rate as the last four, the number of Nigerians without a job will rocket to 55 million.
“That is almost two out of three of our people without a job, without a pay packet and without the means to feed their family.”
Shaibu added that if Nigerian people decide to elect Atiku as President, he will create jobs, grow the economy and get Nigeria working again.
“This is not some empty promises like Buhari has failed to deliver”, the spokesman said.
“HE Atiku gives his commitments based on his track record in Government: When HE Atiku was Vice President with responsibility for the economy the number of Nigerians with a job went up.
“HE Atiku gives his commitments based on his track record in business: If Atiku can create 50,000 direct jobs and 250,000 indirect jobs in his own businesses, imagine what a Government led by him can do for the nation.
“Atiku gives his commitments based on the track record of his party: In the last three years of the PDP Administration, Nigeria was the fastest growing economy in Africa.
“Since the APC came, they have shrunk our growth rate so that we now rank a lowly 42nd in the Continent. Africa’s largest economic powerhouse has become a pygmy.
“What measly economic growth we do have is below our population growth, so each year under Buhari our people are getting poorer.”
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