The Labour Party has called on President Bola Tinubu to make public office unattractive to encourage well-meaning leaders and promote the delivery of democratic dividends.

The party’s national deputy chair, Ayo Olorunfemi, made the call in an interview in Lagos.

“The political problems confronting Nigeria can only be solved when we have leaders who are selfless, and that is why I will not only support unicameral legislature or making legislature a part-time affair,” the Labour Party leader stated.

Mr Olorunfemi added, “Ministerial jobs should be given the same status as the job of board chairmen, and must be given to technocrats. Once political offices are no longer attractive, only serious-minded people will offer themselves for the job and not criminals.”

Mr Olorunfemi was reacting to Wednesday’s presidential broadcast to mark the 25th anniversary of uninterrupted democratic governance in Nigeria.

He said violence, hooliganism, killing and unhealthy competition marred elections because public offices remained unsustainably lucrative and attractive to politicians.

“If we truly want to develop as a democratic nation, we must have the right people in government and make political offices unattractive. This will pave the way for only the serious-minded to get involved, not for money making but for real service to the people,” Mr Olorunfemi said.

He said that public officeholders could be paid an honorarium instead of a salary to ensure that democracy works for the people.

According to him, the last 25 years of democracy in Nigeria have not benefitted ordinary people but only those in the corridors of power. He said that Nigerians had no reason to undergo all the hardships and pains they have faced since the return of democracy.

The Labour Party chieftain urged the president to walk the talk by making the people’s views and opinions count in all policies and programmes.

He said that the president failed to acknowledge the role of the labour movements and leaders, particularly the role played by people like Milton Dabibi, Sola Ji, Ayo Olorunfemi, Chris Uyot, Ajeiro, Abiodun Aremu, Didi Adodo, and the late Ola Oni, among others, who also risked their lives for democracy, in his broadcast.

(NAN)