NLC Begs US, Others to Lift Economic Embargo on Cuba

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has pleaded with the Western countries  to lift the economic ban placed on Cuba in the spirit of the new global economic order.

It asked the federal government to lobby Western countries, especially the United States of America to stop the embargo in the spirit of global democracies.

Speaking while receiving a Friendship Medal from the Government of Cuba in recognition of the support and solidarity NLC has given to the country, the President of NLC Comrade Joe Ajaero, said the lifting of the economic ban on Cuba has become necessary so that the country can play a role in the global markets to ensure that the world benefits from their comparative and competitive advantage.

He said: “NLC will continue to appeal to Nigerian government and other world bodies to put pressure on the West, especially the United States of America to lift the economic ban on Cuba in the spirit of the new global economic order, in the spirit of democracies, all over the world so that Cuba can play a role in the global markets to ensure that their comparative and competitive advantage, will manifest you know, to the interest of the whole world.”

Ajaero said that NLC appreciates the challenges the Cuban Embassy in some parts of the world are facing to the extent  that the country are not allowed to open accounts based on some economic policies and global conspiracy.

He also spoke of the affinity that organised labour in Nigeria share with Cuba saying that the manner the Cuban Embassy handles issues affecting NLC is very friendly.

“The manner the Cuban Embassy handles those issues that affect us, in November, we had challenges because of our job in Imo state. The ambassador was almost here physically to see the emotional attachment, to make sure that all is well and we can’t just brush this by the side.

” It is very important that you have shown his hand of friendship and will continue to work with the Cuban embassy and the workers there in Cuba, to ensure a world where all manner of discrimination, social injustice, social inequality and discrimination against humanity is eradicated,” he said.

Ajaero said the trade unions are in operation, to make sure that there is equality between men and women of goodwill all over so that there won’t be a war.

“The war will be the same thing. For the rich, for the poor, for men, for women. 

“So and that is what the NLC in fact, by extension, the trade unions movements globally are all about to make sure we eradicate social inequality and we’ll continue to strive for it. When we continue to strive for our cooperation. 

In the award citation signed by the President of the Republic of Cuba Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez, he said the friendship medal was for the leadership of trade unions in acknowledgement of “their support and backing to strengthen and deepen the links with our people, based on brotherhood, solidarity and cooperation at both political and labour levels for excellent historical relations with the Cuban trade union movement.”