Upon the commemoration of International Workers’ Day, Nigeria witnessed expressions from the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) highlighting the challenges faced by citizens and workers during President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s tenure.
The NLC’s Head of Information and Public Affairs, Benson Upah, and TUC President Festus Osifo conveyed concerns regarding the significant hardships experienced by Nigerians and workers due to various economic factors such as high inflation, foreign exchange crisis, food inflation, and energy crisis.
Upah emphasized the exacerbation of living conditions under Tinubu’s administration, attributing it to policies such as fuel subsidy removal, persistent Naira crisis in the foreign exchange market, and electricity tariff increments that contribute to the prevailing economic difficulties faced by the populace.
The NLC representative urged President Tinubu to reconsider certain policies to enhance the welfare of Nigerian workers.
“Life has worsened considerably. In fact, the most painful aspect of it is that there is no silver lining in the sky yet. When workers were trying to get used to this ugly situation, the government slammed them with a new energy tariff of 250 per cent, and on the other side, for the workers, nothing has changed.
“So, life has been very terrible for workers in the past year. We wish it could be better.
“To go to specifics: the ill-advised removal of fuel subsidy, the floating of the Naira, and the hike in the tariff of electricity; these three major policies have considerably reduced the value of the Naira.
“Inflation at the moment is 33.2 per cent, and food inflation is a minimum of 40 per cent. The devaluation of the Naira. After these policy announcements. The value of the Naira decreased by about 200 per cent, and after a while, Nigerians started hoping that the Naira would regain its strength and stability. There were other storms.
“Ou we suspect that these policies are dictated from outside this country, and they are not good for the health of this country or for the people of this country, and we advise Mr President to retrace his steps.
“Our message is that workers should not be broken; they should remain strong and be guided by the philosophy of the bedbug that this hot water that they are pouring on us will one day grow cold,” the NLC said.
Conversely, TUC President Osifo urged both federal and state governments to prioritize the well-being of workers.
During the Pre-May Day Lecture in Abuja, Osifo underscored the necessity of prioritizing the welfare and interests of the populace in formulating governmental policies.
Represented by TUC’s Deputy President, Comrade Eitm Okon, Osifo emphasized the significance of the 2024 May Day theme, “Workers First,” advocating for a people-centric approach and prioritization of workers in all government policies.
“Today marks another turning point in the history of the trade union movement in this country.
“When we look at the theme of the 2024 Worker’sayWorker’s celebration, which is People First, that is very significant because we need to put the people first, we need to put the workers first, and when you put the people first, you put your family first. This is what is called the first line charge.
“Today, we have experienced various policy mismatches and summersaults where people’s welfare is put at the bottom of the radar.
“A case in point was the increase in electricity tariff without following due process and without consultation with various stakeholders who would have been involved in taking critical decisions that affect the lives of workers,” he lamented.
