By Charles Igwe
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has presented a comprehensive 17-point demand to President Bola Tinubu, aiming to address the pervasive poverty, hunger, and widespread suffering caused by federal government policies. This demand comes in the wake of a nationwide protest organized by the NLC, which saw active participation from Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, who voiced concerns about the prevailing hunger and frustration among the populace.
Following the successful first day of the nationwide protest, the leadership of the NLC decided to suspend further action, citing the overwhelming success achieved. In a communiqué issued at the conclusion of its National Executive Council meeting, NLC President Joe Ajaero and Acting General Secretary Ismail Bello stated that the decision to suspend the protest was made after evaluating its effectiveness and considering further necessary actions to engage the government in addressing the escalating hardship faced by the people and Nigerian workers.
In a letter addressed to President Tinubu titled “Tackling the Crisis of Survival and Mounting Destitution in the Land – What Must be Done Now!”, NLC President Joe Ajaero outlined the dire economic situation facing millions of Nigerians and attributed it to two key government policies – the removal of fuel subsidy and the foreign currency exchange rate flotation policy. Expressing disappointment over the worsening economic conditions despite previous assurances, the NLC urged President Tinubu to take immediate action to mitigate the suffering of the people.
Among the 17 demands presented to President Tinubu are measures to alleviate increasing hardship, including reopening land borders to facilitate the importation of essential goods, ensuring food security, immediate implementation of previous agreements, deployment of CNG/electric buses, reduction of import duties on essential medical supplies, and suspension of IMF and World Bank policies in Nigeria. The NLC emphasized the urgency of these measures to prevent further deterioration of the economy and alleviate the suffering of the Nigerian people.
In conclusion, the NLC urged President Tinubu to consider their proposals seriously and take bold and decisive action to address the current economic challenges facing the nation. They expressed confidence in the resilience and creativity of the Nigerian workforce and emphasized the importance of effective collaboration between the government and social partners to achieve inclusive growth and prosperity for all citizens.
