By Cajetan Mmuta, Awka,Ben Adoga
The Nigeria Labour Congress made good its promise to embark on nationwide protest over prevailing hardship caused by the removal of subsidy at the inception of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s regime.
The leadership of NLC across the states of the federation were seen leading their respective unions on the street to register their grievances against government policies that have bought untold hardship on the entire country.
However, despite all entreaties made by the Federal Government to the organised Labour to shelve the protest the NLC led by its President, Joe Ajaero insisted that the protest must hold yesterday.
•Sokoto complies with NLC’s directive
The Sokoto State Chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday complied with the directive of its national headquarters by joining the two-day nationwide protest.
Its state Chairman, Abdullahi Aliyu, who led the rally expressed gratitude to the workers for their solidarity and appealed for their continued understanding as well as dedication as the protests continue.
Aliyu said that the union would continue to put pressure on the government to implement the necessary measures aimed at ameliorating the hardship being faced by Nigerians.
“We are witnessing severe economic hardship, insecurity, and soaring costs of living that surpass the means of the average citizen.
“Our plea to the government is to take proactive measures before the situation escalates beyond control,” he appealed.
The chairman urged the members to remain law-abiding and to offer prayers for the country’s well-being.
He appealed to Gov. Ahmed Aliyu of the state to join other Governors in implementing wage awards and providing palliatives to civil servants in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that participants at the rally displayed placards with inscriptions as: “Free Education, Not Student Loans”; “End Insecurity and Create Jobs”.
Others were: “Combat Hunger, Poverty, and Support Small Industries”, among others. (NAN)
•Osun NLC, CSG join protest on rising cost of living
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and civil society groups in Osun yesterday, staged a peaceful protest in Osogbo on the rising cost of living in the country.
The protesters who carried placards with various inscriptions such as; ‘Nigerians are hungry, ‘say no to Naira devaluation’, amongst others, converged at Osogbo Freedom Park before matching to Olaiya Junction disrupting vehicular movement in the process.
Speaking with journalists, Mr Christopher Arapasopo, Chairman, NLC in Osun, said the protest was in conformation with the directive of the national body of the union.
Arapasopo expressed the need for the Federal Government to find lasting solution to the hardship confronting Nigerians, saying “a lot of people are dying from hunger.”
He called on President Bola Tinubu to fulfil his promise of better life for Nigeria and Nigerians during the electioneering and to honour agreement signed with the organised labour.
“Nigerians are dying, Nigerians are suffering. We can’t afford to buy a carton of Indomie noodles in the market.
“Inflation is affecting virtually everything in the market. Government should come to our aid and also honour the agreement signed with organised labour,” he said.
Also speaking, Mr Kehinde Ogungangbe, President, Osun National Union of Local Government Employee (NULGE) also pleaded to the government to come to the aid of Nigerians.
Ogungbangbe said Nigerians, especially workers are hungry, saying the impact of the present hardship had become unbearable.
He said the protest was meant to let the world know that things are not going well with Nigerians.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that security agents including the police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were on ground to prevent breakdown of law and order.
NAN also observed that businesses and trading were not affected as shops, banks and markets were opened in Osogbo, the state capital. (NAN)
•NLC cripples socio-economic activities in Anambra amid tight security
The various Labour Unions under the umbrella of the Nigeria Labour ingress (NLC) and members of the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) yesterday crippled vehicular movement and socio-economic activities as they protested the wave of hardship biting hard on citizens and residents of Anambra’ state.
The protesters in their large numbers were drawn from organized labour and other affiliate groups including ASUU and commercial tricycle riders and motorists converged at Arom junction on the dual carriage Enugu-Awka-Onitsha expressway in the capital town of Awka from where they proceeded to Ahu Awka Government House.
Operatives of the State Police Command, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and plain clothed security men were on ground to ensure peace, law and order during the protest.
Speakers during the protest blamed the federal government for its insensitivity towards the welfare of the citizenry and urged it to take decisive steps towards reaching the poor masses from the grip of hunger and high cost of virtually everything across all sectors of the economy.
Chairman of the NLC in Anambra’ state, Comrade Humphrey Okafor Whike addressing the crowd said, “So many things are happening, there is serious hunger in the land and when you don’t address all these things it will lead to criminality. People will resort to so many violent things.”
Vice chairman of the labour Congress, Comrade Ifeanyichukwu Nweze said, “If we continue from now till next year to say there’s hunger in the land nobody will blame us.
“It is biting on us, those selling pure water can at least confirm this; pure water is now N50 but we have nothing to sell as workers. They can only give us our salaries at the end of the month but that salary cannot also take us anywhere.
Nweze said, “It is unfortunate that the Governor Soludo gave us wage award but he could not sustain it and we speak to him today to revisit it; the hunger is biting hard.
Yes, it’s good to do infrastructure, to do roads and bridges but then, is it not the living that will walk on the roads and bridges? We urge the government to please do the needful and address this ugly trend before the situation gets out of hands.”
Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) chapter, Professor Kingsley Ubah Orji in his speech noted that both the police, Civil Defence and Army are not enjoying the country not because that they are not well paid.
“The retirees are not being paid their pensions. All labourers are out here to say to the national and state governments that we are not happy, hunger is in the land”
•Protesters in Benin expressed their frustrations over cost of living
A horde of members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), yesterday took to the streets of Benin City, the Edo State capital, to express their frustration and disappointment over the current economic hardship and cost of living in the country.
The protesters were reportedly protesting the government’s alleged failure to implement agreements reached between both parties on October 2, 2023, following the removal of the fuel subsidy.
The NLC members accused the government of reneging on its promises to improve the economy and create job opportunities for the teeming masses.
The protesters were peaceful and orderly, as they marched through the streets of Benin City, chanting slogans and carrying placards with inscriptions such as “No to economic hardship” and “Government must act now.”
The police were on hand to maintain law and order, and there were no reports of violence or arrests.
When visited the scene of the protest at the government house, protesters were seen in groups discussing the negative effects of high cost of goods and services in the country.
One of the protesters Mr. Kingsley Amadasun said, “you media people should help us reach out to the government. The economic situation of the country is becoming unbearable.
We are tired of the increasing cost of foodstuff, transportation and other items. President Tinubu should take the bull by the horns and address the situation,” he said.
•Lagos Assembly lauds organised labour on peaceful protest
The Lagos State House of Assembly has commended the peaceful protest by organised labour against economic hardship and insecurity in the country.
The Speaker of the House Mr Mudashiru Obasa gave the commendation while addressing protesters at the Assembly on Tuesday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the organised labour had insisted to go ahead with the two-day nationwide protest to call for action against hardship and insecurity in the country.
The Federal Government had on Monday night met with representatives of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and pleaded with it to shelve the planned protest.
Obasa, who was represented by the Majority Leader of the House, Mr Noheem Adams, said that the Assembly had recently raised concerns over the state of the economy and had passed a motion, calling on the state Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu to act to ameliorate sufferings in the state.
“Just last week during plenary, members representing different constituencies deliberated extensively about the current hardship in the state.
“We are sure that things will get back in shape hopefully. Lagos State is one of the safest states in the country”, he said.
The speaker also urged labour leaders to ensure that their subsequent protests were peaceful
The Chairman of the NLC in the state, Mrs Funmi Sessi, lamented the meagre salaries of workers, saying workers now live on borrowing.
“The salary is not taking them anywhere. Most people live on borrowed money and have nothing to feed their families with.
“Today is the beginning of many other protests in the state until a solution is proffered,” she said.
Sessi urged the Assembly to pass a message to President Bola Tinubu and the state governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on the need to address rising cost of living in the state and the country in general.
NAN reports that other lawmakers who addressed the protesters included: Mr Adedamola Kasunmu, Mr Abiodun Tobun, Mr Desmond Elliot, Mr Ajani Owolabi, Mr Ogunkelu Sylvester, Mr Sanni Okanlawon and Mr Shabi Adebola (NAN)
•Imo NLC seeks better working conditions for workers
Members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Imo have called for urgent upward review of the salaries and other emoluments of workers to address the current hardship in the country.
The workers in Owerri made the call when they joined their counterparts across the country in a nationwide peaceful protest over hyperinflation and economic hardship among other things, yesterday.
Addressing newsmen, Comrade Chigaemezu Nwaigwe, the Imo Chairman of NLC, said that workers could no longer keep quiet and continue to die in silence following the uncontrolled surge in prices of goods and services in the country.
He lamented infrastructural decays, high cost of petroleum products and epileptic power supply among other socio-economic needs, adding that Nigerian workers were the ones bearing the brunt of the nation’s economic woes.
“We want to make it abundantly clear that the Nigerian workers are saying no to economic hardship and enough is enough for the economic hardship.
“That the message should reach the Presidency as the Governor, Sen. Hope Uzodinma, is the Chairman of APC Governor’s Forum.
“We can no longer afford to take care of ourselves and our families considering the inflating cost of living, “ he said.
A former Secretary to the Imo Government, Chief Nnamdi Anyaehie, while receiving the workers expressed gratitude to them for the peaceful protest, describing Imo workers as “men of integrity and impeccable loyalty.”
He thanked the security agencies for ensuring that the protest was peaceful and well- organised, adding that the workers’ requests were realistic because a labourer deserves his or her wage.
He pointed out that Gov. Uzodimma was a worker- friendly governor and listed incentives the governor had given to workers in the state to include free transportation, 13th month salary payment and expedited promotions among others.
He noted that though the workers’ concerns were legitimate, it was necessary for them to exercise patience as the administration of President Bola Tinubu was less than one year old and an “unfortunate product of the nation’s years of accumulated transferred socioeconomic woes. “
He canvassed the need for prayers for the nation’s leaders, noting that Nigeria would surely be rescued from the socio-economic doldrums. (NAN)
