The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Central Working Committee convened on July 25th to address the mounting hardships faced by Nigerian workers and citizens. At the heart of their discussions was the deplorable economic situation, which has resulted in a rise in the cost of living, pushing the masses and workers into severe poverty.
The NLC leaders were quick to point out that the current suffering endured by the people is largely a consequence of the federal government’s anti-poor policies. Particularly, they expressed grave concern over the recent hike in the pump price of premium motor spirit (PMS) without adequate safety nets to mitigate its impact.
Strongly condemning the government’s apparent disregard for the plight of the people, the NLC leaders lambasted the paltry #8000 per family palliative offered as insultingly inadequate, especially when compared to the #70 billion they allocated to themselves. This glaring disparity revealed a stark insensitivity towards the struggles faced by ordinary Nigerians.
Furthermore, the NLC criticized the government’s unilateral actions and its failure to engage in dialogue with workers’ unions before implementing crucial policies. They highlighted that the government’s committee, set up for social dialogue, has been frustratingly neglected, leaving the citizens without a voice in crucial decisions affecting their lives.
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The aftermath of the meeting saw the issuance of a communique containing four critical points. NLC pointed out that the federal government has shown disdain and contempt for Nigerian citizens and workers having acted and continued to act without regards to the welfare and cries of the citizenry.
That government seems to have declared war of attrition on Nigeria workers and masses without any care and leaving them to the throes of hopelessness and helplessness.
According to Joe Ajaero, the federal government has refused to put in place safeguards to protect Nigerians from the harsh economic situation that its policies have inflicted on the people rather it has decided to insult the sensibilities of Nigeria masses by offering us #8000 per family and offering themselves #70billion.
The Labour Union also stressed that the federal government has frustrated and abandoned its own committee which was a product of social dialogue between the government and workers organisations in the country. While the committee has not met, the government has embarked on unilateral actions and programmes.
The NLC’s resolute stance highlights the urgent need for the government to reconsider its policies, prioritize the welfare of its citizens, and engage in constructive dialogue to find sustainable solutions for the nation’s economic challenges.
