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Bauchi State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has lamented that this year’s May Day is being celebrated at a critical time when the nation’s economy was very unfavourable to the working class and entire citizens as well.
The NLC stressed that the introduction of harsh economic policies and removal of subsidies on fuel, electricity, fertilizer and farm inputs as well as floating of the Naira to compete with other international currencies has shattered the lives of many Nigerians.
These were contained in an address delivered by Comrade Dauda M Shuaibu, the Chairperson, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Bauchi State Council on the occasion of commemoration of 2024 International Workers Day
on Wednesday, 1st May, 2024 jointly organised by NLC and TUC
Bauchi State Councils with the Theme: “PEOPLE FIRST”.
The NLC declared that, “Government at the centre has failed to realize that no developing country will progress without subsidies. Even the so called developed nations do grant economy subsidies in all the areas we mentioned above.”
“We view the action of government on removal of subsidies as an effort to impoverish the citizens and turn all of us to slavery and beggars. This is also in a bid to satisfy the Western World and their retrogressive agenda against all African countries with huge potentials which they view as a threat to their economies, the NLC stressed.
According to the NLC, “There is no logic in removing subsidy and giving a paltry palliative that cannot cover one quarter of the citizens. Fellow Comrades, it is unfortunate that, Government has also continued to foot drag on the issue of new minimum Wage.”
It added that, “We are therefore calling on workers to brace up and prepare for a big show down if the issue is further
delayed unnecessarily. We cannot continue to watch while people are dying of hunger and malnutrition due to an artificial inflation imposed on citizens
and negligence on the part of authorities.”
On Citizens welfare and security, the NLC opined that, “The President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federation, had on assumption of office in May 2023, promised to sustain and improve on the issue of citizens’ welfare and security which is the cardinal objectives of any administration, but for the past one year, there is no noticeable change in the life of workers and citizens. It is rather an additional impoverishment.”
It stressed that,”The issue of pervasive poverty and joblessness of our youths and graduates has continued unabated. Frequent kidnapping, banditry and terrorism particularly in the North-West are still ongoing.”
On National economy, if stressed that,
“Fellow Comrades, distinguished invited guests, from the assessment of the
Nation’s economy we reported last year to-date, there is no significant progress achieved, it is rather a retrogressive movement and hyper inflation driving the economy.”
“All efforts (if any) by the present administration to stabilize the economy and revive the value of our currency, the Naira, has not yielded any positive result. The national minimum wage is no longer in tune with the current economic realities of the country as it cannot even afford half a bag of rice,” It lamented.
The NLC added that,”The cost of living has skyrocketed to an un-imaginable level in our country. Citizens are surviving by the Grace of Almighty Allah/God. We are calling on the Government to urgently consider the People first.”
According to the NLC, “The promise of provision of CNG Buses and CNG stations across the States and geo-political zones is yet to be attained. The promise to provide students’ loan scheme is also on paper up to now. The quality of a good leader is to keep the citizens safe and hunger-free. As the saying goes a hungry man is an angry
man. This should be avoided at all cost.”
Bauchi State NLC chairman, Comrade Dauda Shuaibu flanked by other Union leaders
