The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has asked the federal government to take immediate drastic measures to cushion the worsening hardship and hunger in the country.
NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, said this when he addressed the leadership of the National Assembly who came to receive the protesting workers who were in the National Assembly to register their displeasure over hardship.
Ajaero, who led the leadership of all affiliate unions of NLC and civil society organisations in the protest, said the level of hunger in Nigeria requires urgent intervention. He further charged President Tinubu to show capacity by taking immediate actions that will reverse the current hardship.
“This is not to use theoretical or rhetorical solutions. Serious intervention actions must be taken by the government immediately to save the citizens from death and the country from civil unrest.
“Across Nigeria, the murmuring and dissenting voice of displeasure is growing stronger by the day, it will be unfortunate and regrettable if the government allows the voices in the shadows growing snowballed into a mob action. Our rally today is a kind of early warning to what may come if government hesitates to act now.
“Members of the National Assembly should know that they will not be spared if things go out of hand. We are not coming here every time to register displeasure or letters for the fun of it. If you refuse to take action too, you will equally have yourselves to be blamed,” Ajaero said.
Receiving the demand letter from the protesting workers, the Chairman Senate Committee on Labour and Productivity, Senator Diket Plang, said the demand of the Nigeria Labour Congress and its civil society organisations’ allies will be discussed immediately at the plenary of both the Senate and House of Representatives. He promised the Senate President will transmit the position of workers to President Bola Tinubu, and ensure urgent action is taken to end hardship.
In the demand letter to President Tinubu through the National Assembly, NLC asked for; “Employment generation through massive investment in agriculture and value-added manufacturing. Immediate subsidy to farmers to boost agricultural production and food security. Open all food storage silos and enforce equitable distribution across the country.
“Immediate fixing of abandoned factories and revival of our local production and patronage of Made-in-Nigeria goods and services. Fixing of the four refineries as a matter of urgent national priority. Make electricity and water available, affordable and accessible to all citizens.
“Massive investment in road/rail infrastructure and social housing. Immediate deployment of cheap mass transportation, buses powered by CNG to ease the crisis of transportation for the poor people. Put an end to further privatization and liberalization of the economy and take control of the commanding heights of the economy in the line with section 16 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Go after oil subsidy cabal and other economic saboteurs instead of helpless Nigerians.
“Put a stop to all dollarization of the Nigerian economy. Put a stop to all wasteful spending and profligacy in government. Proper and adequate funding of education and health care at all levels. Adequate provision for social security for the aged and the vulnerable. Pay all outstanding wages and pensions at all tiers of the government. Fast-track negotiation and implementation of the new national minimum wage. Abandonment of IMF/World Bank policies as they bring extreme hardship to Nigerians as well as imperil our security and sovereignty.”