…Says Tinubu treating Nigerians like slaves
Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has said it is ready to commence a nationwide strike aimed at seeking the reversal of fuel pump price hike and other policies by President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The NLC accused the Tinubu-led Federal Government of treating Nigerians “like slaves and conquered people.”
The Congress also strongly criticised the government for “refusing to put in place safeguards to protect Nigerians from the harsh economic situation that its policies have inflicted on the people”. It said that the Government has “rather decided to “insult the sensibilities of Nigerian masses by offering us N8, 000 per family and offering themselves N70bn” as palliative for petrol subsidy removal.
The NLC, in a communiqué issued at the end of its central working committee (CWC) meeting held on Tuesday, and signed by its President, Joe Ajaero, and General Secretary, Emmanuel Uboaja, respectively, therefore, announced a nationwide strike from Wednesday, August 2, 2023, just as it accused the government of frustrating labour’s efforts to discuss all issues at stake.
According to the Labour union, “Since Mr. President’s “subsidy is gone forever” speech on inauguration day; the peace of mind of Nigerians has gone; decent living has gone – increasing despair of unimaginable dimensions”.
“That the Federal Government has continued to treat Nigerians as slaves and a conquered people which it treats with impunity without any concern on the consequences,” the NLC said.
To avert the proposed strike, the Congress listed the following conditions: The immediate reversal of all anti-poor policies, including the recent hike in petrol price, increase in public school fees, release of the eight-month withheld salary of university lecturers and workers.
The NLC called on all civil society organisations and Nigerians to “begin mobilisation to take action on their own to save our nation, and organise mass protest rallies across the nation to demonstrate outrage against the inhuman actions and policies of the government”.
