The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) on
\nThursday staged a protest at the National Assembly complex, Abuja over the
\nrising cost of living in Nigeria.<\/p>\n
The NLC Chairman, Mr Ayuba Wabba, said that the groups were protesting the
\ndelay in the upward review of minimum wage amidst increasing cost of items
\nin the country.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are here to demand for good governance and express our support in the
\nfight against corruption.<\/p>\n
\u201cMore importantly, we demand for respect for rule of law, greater
\naccountability and transparency in governance,\u2019\u2019 Wabba said.<\/p>\n
He expressed worry that Nigerian workers had been the major victims of the
\nfall-out of corruption and bad governance.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday the dollar rate is one Naira to 500 dollars and the salaries of
\nNigerian workers have remained the same.<\/p>\n
\u201cTherefore, we are here to urge the National Assembly to play an important
\nrole to ensure that life is made better for Nigerians.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe cannot succeed if the fight against corruption does not succeed.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe appreciate the efforts by the National Assembly to ensure financial
\nautonomy for the local governments and this must be sustained because
\nmoney meant for the local governments does not get there.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
The NLC chairman further expressed concern that in spite of the bailout
\nfunds to states for workers\u2019 salaries, \u201cthe living condition of workers
\nhave not been improved because many are not paid\u2019\u2019.<\/p>\n
He explained that pensioners in the country were owed up to 77 months and
\ncalled on the National Assembly to synergise with other arms of government
\nto pay them.<\/p>\n
Contributing, the TUC President, Bobboi Kaigama said that the inflation
\nrate in the country was growing astronomically.<\/p>\n
Kaigama said that it was time for governments at all tiers to go back to
\nthe drawing board to revive the country\u2019s economy.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhatever it takes, we must review the structure of our economy.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we must have to kill corruption, the laws have to come from the
\nNational Assembly.<\/p>\n
\u201cNigerians are hungry, the cost of living is high, no houses, no light and
\nfactories have gone comatose,\u2019\u2019 Kaigama said.<\/p>\n
Responding, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, said it was time to go
\ninto action towards addressing the numerous challenges confronting
\nNigerians.<\/p>\n
According to him, we need to sit down and work out how to make necessary
\nadjustments.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt can\u2019t continue this way, the exchange rate is high, cost of things in
\nthe market have gone high but only the workers\u2019 salaries remain the same.<\/p>\n
\u201cBy the next time we will meet, I will tell you what the National Assembly
\nhas done to improve the living condition of Nigerians,\u2019\u2019 Saraki said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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.…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":56045,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-56044","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-exclusive"],"yoast_head":"\n