APA – Lagos (Nigeria)
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has urged Nigerians to hold their leaders accountable while they groan daily over the rising cost of living caused by the removal of petrol subsidy.
The President of the NLC, Mr. Joe Ajaero, said in a statement to mark Nigeria’s 63rd Independence anniversary on Sunday in Abuja that while admitting that the country was facing challenges on many fronts, Nigerians “must demand accountability from our leaders. The days of impunity and unbridled corruption must come to an end.
“We call on all Nigerians to actively participate in the democratic process, holding our elected officials to the highest standards of integrity and performance.”
According to the NLC President, the cost of living has become high as Nigerians work harder to earn a living.
“It is inexplicable why this persistent contradiction of; the harder we work, the less we earn; which has kept Nigerian workers totally emasculated and unable to meet their basic needs. N30,000 national minimum wage cannot buy a bag of 50kg rice but can only buy 30 loaves of average sized bread yet some states have refused to pay,” he added.
“Earned income via wages are seen as charity demanding applause from Nigerians when they are paid. Workers have become reduced to going to work on Mondays and sleeping in their places of work till Friday evening before going home because they cannot afford the cost of transport on daily basis yet, this government has refused to act to save the people from this horrendous suffering. That is why we have continued to ask for a Wage Award to serve as a cushion to the consequences of the hike in the price of Patrol by the Government,” local media reports on Sunday quoted the NLC President as saying.
Meanwhile, the NLC and Trade Union Congress (TUC) have declared a nationwide strike, which is expected to commence on Tuesday, October 3, 2023 to protest the high cost of living in the country caused by the removal of subsidy on petrol and the attendant impact on the people.
However, senior government officials are currently engaging the organized labour on Sunday to reach an agreement on tackling the issues raised by Labour and avert the planned indefinite strike. The labour unions had earlier carried out a two-day warning strike before announcing the indefinite nationwide strike.
GIK/APA