By Charles Igwe
The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) conveyed the urgent need for concrete action over mere promises to address the challenges faced by Nigerian workers in the wake of the subsidy removal. President of the TUC, Festus Osifo, emphasized the growing impatience among workers due to the hardships resulting from subsidy removal during a meeting in Abuja on Tuesday.
Osifo expressed workers’ mounting pressures and the difficulty they face, which has led the TUC leadership to have sleepless nights. The TUC leadership engaged with the Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong, and the Minister of State, Nkeiruka Onyejecha, to discuss the government’s efforts in addressing workers’ concerns.
During the meeting, Minister Lalong briefed the TUC on the actions taken by the Federal Government to address the grievances of workers. He explained that after their previous meeting, he had discussions with the President and conveyed the labor union’s concerns. He appealed to the TUC for patience, noting that the President had provided further directives on implementing these issues after personally meeting with labor leaders before departing for the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Prior to the closed-door session of the meeting, Minister Lalong expressed gratitude to the TUC for their willingness to engage in the briefing, highlighting their commitment to the Nigerian project and their openness to dialogue to enhance industrial harmony.
TUC President Comrade Osifo acknowledged the Minister’s efforts but stressed the need for tangible actions over promises. He reiterated that workers face substantial pressures and hardships resulting from subsidy removal and that the TUC hopes to hear conclusive outcomes within the next two weeks to alleviate tensions and potential work stoppages.
Following the meeting, the TUC expressed optimism about fruitful discussions and expressed hope that the government would fulfill its promises and responsibilities to ensure the welfare of workers and all Nigerians.
