The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC)
on Thursday staged a protest at the National Assembly complex, Abuja,
over the rising cost of living in Nigeria.
The NLC Chairman, Ayuba Wabba, said the groups were protesting the
delay in the upward review of minimum wage
“We are here to demand for good governance and express our support in
the fight against corruption.
“More importantly, we demand for respect for rule of law, greater
accountability and transparency in governance,” Mr. Wabba said.
He expressed worry that Nigerian workers had been the major victims of
the fall-out of corruption and bad governance.
“Today the dollar rate is N500 to one dollar and the salaries of
Nigerian workers have remained the same.
“Therefore, we are here to urge the National Assembly to play an
important role to ensure that life is made better for Nigerians.
“We cannot succeed if the fight against corruption does not succeed.
“We appreciate the efforts by the National Assembly to ensure
financial autonomy for the local governments and this must be
sustained because money meant for the local governments does not get
there.’’
The NLC chairman further expressed concern that in spite of the
bailout funds to states for workers’ salaries, “the living condition
of workers have not been improved because many are not paid’’.
He explained that pensioners in the country were owed up to 77 months
and called on the National Assembly to synergise with other arms of
government to pay them.
Contributing, the TUC President, Bobboi Kaigama, said that the
inflation rate in the country was growing astronomically.
Mr. Kaigama said that it was time for governments at all tiers to go
back to the drawing board to revive the country’s economy.
“Whatever it takes, we must review the structure of our economy.
“If we must have to kill corruption, the laws have to come from the
National Assembly.
“Nigerians are hungry, the cost of living is high, no houses, no light
and factories have gone comatose,’’ Kaigama said.
Responding, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, said it was time to
go into action towards addressing the numerous challenges confronting
Nigerians.
According to him, we need to sit down and work out how to make
necessary adjustments.
“It can’t continue this way, the exchange rate is high, cost of things
in the market have gone high but only the workers’ salaries remain the
same.
“By the next time we will meet, I will tell you what the National
Assembly has done to improve the living condition of Nigerians,” Mr.
Saraki said. (NAN
