The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has made a passionate appeal to the Federal Government, urging them to swiftly provide authentic palliatives.
The TUC emphasizes that Nigerian workers are currently facing the most challenging period of their lives, with many going to work on empty stomachs.
During an interview with DAILY POST on Friday, the Kogi State chairman of TUC, Sule Ahmed Tijani, expressed deep concern about the dire situation of workers due to fuel subsidy removal.
He highlighted that the soaring prices of transportation and food items have become unbearable for Nigerians, leading to severe hardship and even loss of lives for workers and their families.
Tijani criticized the government for not implementing sufficient measures to alleviate the hardships experienced by Nigerians. He noted the significant impact of fuel subsidy removal and the recent increase in petrol prices, further exacerbating the suffering of workers nationwide.
According to Tijani, the current minimum wage in the country can no longer adequately sustain workers. He emphasized that the present administration’s actions have added to the burdens of workers, despite hopes for improvement when they came into power.
Regarding the proposed N8,000 palliative by the Government, Tijani expressed skepticism, urging the administration to consider comprehensive solutions rather than exacerbating the problems faced by Nigerians.
He suggested using the funds to revitalize refineries, as he believes the proposed palliative may not reach the intended beneficiaries but instead benefit the wealthy and powerful.
Despite the challenging situation, Tijani stated that labor is not currently considering a strike to press their demands. Instead, the organized labor is waiting for the government to present a genuine plan to alleviate the hardships faced by workers.
Tijani also appealed to the Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, to urgently address the plight of workers in the state, as other states are doing, in order to alleviate their suffering.