Political Elite Yet To Model Sacrifice Expected Of Nigerians, Says Labour
The Senate President Godswill Akpabio and the leadership of the upper-lawmaking body met with the organised labour at the National Assembly complex in Abuja on Tuesday.
The President of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), Comrade Festus Osifo, in his presentation, maintained that the country’s political elite had not modelled the sacrifice they demanded of Nigerians.
Osifo, who was one of the labour leaders invited by the Senate over their grievances about the subsidy removal, argued that the interventions brought forward by the Federal Government were not far-reaching.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) president Comrade Joe Ajaero, who was also in attendance, said the increase in the cost of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) without anything on the ground to ameliorate the suffering was unfortunate.
He added that during the protest which organized labour took to the National Assembly, the unions presented a document that encapsulates their demands and it the belief that the leadership has looked at the document.
The NLC boss argued that Nigerians are suffering because of the increase in PMS which is at the centre of economic activities and it affects everyone when it’s touched.
Organised labour is pushing for a reduction in the pump price of petroleum following the removal of subsidy on the product.
The TUC and NLC are also demanding an increase in minimum wage among others.
Recently, they organised a nationwide protest to push their demands but suspended it after a meeting with the Federal Government which took them to court (later withdrew the case).
