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, Mr Ayuba Wabba, said that the groups were protesting the
delay in the upward review of minimum wage amidst increasing cost of items
in the country.
“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,’’ 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 one Naira to 500 dollars 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.
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,’’ Saraki said.