TRADE Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), has warned that Nigerians are not prepared to go through another excruciating economic hardship in 2009, as experienced in 2008 and called on the Yar'Adua led-government to wake up from slumber and initiate practical steps to revive the ailing Nigeria's economy.

The umbrella body for senior staff associations in the country, lamented that since the emergence of the government on May 29, 2007, not much has been done by the governments at the three tiers to ameliorate the problems confronting Nigerians especially unemployment, national security, food crisis, energy, education, health among others.

TUC in a statement signed by its President-General and Secretary-General, Comrade Peter Esele and Chief John Kolawole, respectively, commended Nigerians especially the working class for their resilience, perseverance and patience in the past years and urged the government to do all that is in its power to make the year 2009 a new era that will put smiles on the faces of Nigerians.

The statement read in part: "The TUC reiterates that not much was done by the government at the three tiers to ameliorate the problems of the people like unemployment, national security, food crisis, energy, education, health, just to name a few.

It is sad that the seven-point agenda initiated in the campaign programme of the Yar'Adua's administration is yet to take-off even after 19 months in office. The Congress salutes Nigerians for their resilience, perseverance and patience and hoped that the year 2009 will usher in a new era that will put smiles on their faces.

"The TUC is urging the Federal Government to wake up from slumber and be more active and make more meaningful impact on realising the objectives of the so-called seven point agenda. The Congress wants the budget 2009 to be implemented and monitored to the letter so that nothing will be half-done."

"The TUC calls on the Federal Government to put more emphasis on employment creation as it has become a major cankerworm in our national growth. Government should provide employment opportunities, create enabling environment for investors to come and assist in setting up skills acquisition schemes in the states and local government levels to stem the alarming rate of unemployment in the country.

"The Federal Government to concentrate on education which is virtually in shambles now so that quality graduates could be coming out of our tertiary institutions We appeal to government to improve on our infrastructures especially roads and energy.

The state of our roads and power situation is nothing to write home about despite the huge billions of Naira sunk into it. We call on government to rehabilitate the major highways in this country and make power available because this will reduce the cost of doing business and bring inflation down. The Federal Government should as a matter of urgency release the 70-billion naira intervention fund for the Textile Industry in order to bring life back and employment to the sector."