Labour Denounces NBS Over Unemployment Figure Report, Describes It is “Voodoo Document”
Organised Labour criticizes the National Bureau of Statistics’ unemployment report, calling it a ‘voodoo document’ disconnected from Nigeria’s economic realities.
The Organised Labour described the report by the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, which stated that unemployment rate has dropped in the country as a "voodoo document," as it was different from the reality.
The Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC's position was in line with the Organised Private Sector, OPS, which stated that the NBS's report did not reflect the economic realities in the country.
According to Labour, the NBS report is another “INEC-style manipulation,” drawing parallels between shortcomings in Nigeria’s election management and the figures.
“Nigerians can go to court if they don’t like the figures. But the truth remains: the NBS has become a failed institution, much like INEC in the eyes of the public,” it said.
“Nigerians can go to court if they don’t like the figures. But the truth remains: the NBS has become a failed institution, much like INEC in the eyes of the public,” it said.
NLC's National Assistant General Secretary, Chris Onyeka, who spoke to reporters criticised the latest unemployment figures released by the NBS, noting that it was a “voodoo document” which did not reflect the current stark realities faced by Nigerians on daily basis, dismissing the report that unemployment had decreased, as a “fabrication designed to mislead the public.”
According to Onyeka, the spurious data was inconsistent with the deteriorating economic fortunes of the people, occasioned by factory closures, dwindling manufacturing activity, as well as rising inventories and inflation.
His words, “Unemployment cannot be coming down in Nigeria when factories are closing shops.
“It cannot be coming down when there is increasing inventory and reduced consumer spending. If anything, unemployment is increasing.
“Once data does not reflect reality, it loses relevance. Unfortunately, the NBS has lost credibility as a result of the data they continue spewing out."
Onyeka further doubted the methodology behind the NBS report, saying it was a “figment of imagination concocted by people who want to manipulate figures.”
The national assistant general secretary also, questioned the alignment between the data and visible realities on the ground, pointing out that, it undermines the credibility of the NBS.
The NLC then challenged the NBS to substantiate its claims by identifying the sectors supposedly generating jobs. “Where are the jobs coming from? Is it from employers who are complaining of consumer resistance and slowing economic activities? It doesn’t add up," Onyeka added, citing the economic difficulties and widespread dissatisfaction among employers.
According to Onyeka, the spurious data was inconsistent with the deteriorating economic fortunes of the people, occasioned by factory closures, dwindling manufacturing activity, as well as rising inventories and inflation.
His words, “Unemployment cannot be coming down in Nigeria when factories are closing shops.
“It cannot be coming down when there is increasing inventory and reduced consumer spending. If anything, unemployment is increasing.
“Once data does not reflect reality, it loses relevance. Unfortunately, the NBS has lost credibility as a result of the data they continue spewing out."
Onyeka further doubted the methodology behind the NBS report, saying it was a “figment of imagination concocted by people who want to manipulate figures.”
The national assistant general secretary also, questioned the alignment between the data and visible realities on the ground, pointing out that, it undermines the credibility of the NBS.
The NLC then challenged the NBS to substantiate its claims by identifying the sectors supposedly generating jobs. “Where are the jobs coming from? Is it from employers who are complaining of consumer resistance and slowing economic activities? It doesn’t add up," Onyeka added, citing the economic difficulties and widespread dissatisfaction among employers.
According to him, the report contradicted the live experiences of Nigerians.
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