Nigeria Labour Congress Rejects NBS Report, Says Tinubu Govt Fabricated GDP Growth To Deceive Nigerians
Recall that the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported that the Nigerian economy grew in the third quarter.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has accused the President Bola Tinubu-led government of fabricating the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) recent reports.
Recall that the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported that the Nigerian economy grew in the third quarter.
Reacting, President Bola Tinubu had said the 3.46% growth in the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is an indication of recovery from economic reforms implemented by his administration.
The NBS had also noted that the growth rate was higher than the 2.54 per cent recorded in the preceding third quarter of 2023.
According to the NBS, the growth rate is higher than the 3.19 per cent recorded in Q2 2024.
The services sector was credited for the growth in the GDP of the country.
However, Chris Onyeka, the National Assistant General Secretary of the NLC speaking to newsmen, described the NBS report as a “voodoo document” that fails to reflect the stark realities Nigerians face daily.
Onyeka said the figures were a “fabrication designed to mislead the public”, adding that the data was inconsistent with the deteriorating economic landscape.
“Unemployment cannot be coming down in Nigeria when factories are closing shops,” he said.
“It cannot be coming down when there is increasing inventory and reduced consumer spending. If anything, unemployment is increasing.”
He questioned the methodology behind the report, describing it as a “figment of imagination concocted by people who want to manipulate figures”.
He also challenged the NBS to substantiate its claims by identifying the sectors supposedly generating jobs.
“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,” he said.
“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.
“The truth remains: the NBS has become a failed institution, much like INEC in the eyes of the public.”
