From Esther Akaa, Lafia
The organised labour in Nasarawa State has joined the nationwide protest declared by Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC across the country over the increase in the price of Petroleum Motor Spirit ( PMS) following recent removal of fuel subsidy by President Bola Tinubu.
The NLC had on August 1st, 2023 reiterated its decision to go ahead with the Wednesday nationwide protests against recent policies of the Federal Government.
The decision came following the end of its meetings with a Federal Government delegation where it affirmed that its decision to go ahead with the protest was not changed.
The members of the NLC and Trade Union Congress (TUC) who began the protest from Total Filling Station in Lafia and marched to the office of the Deputy Governor of the state, Dr. Emmanuel Akabe.
Speaking in Lafia, the State NLC Chairman,
Comrade Ismaila Oko called on the Federal government to reconsider its action as the hardship of workers and the masses were unbearable.
According to him, that the government should immediately roll out whatever they have to do to improve the lives and the workers and the masses before things get out of control.
“The whole salaries of workers now is being spent on transportation to our offices only since May 29, that subsidy was announced to have been removed.
“Workers cannot longer cater for the school fees of their children, feed their family members and live up to other responsibilities in the family,” Oko added.
On his part, the State TUC Chairman Comr. Mohammed Doma urged the government to act fast to address the increasing hike in the price of petroleum.
He said Nigeria was an oil producing country , thus its citizens should enjoy the privilege of buying PMS at a subsidised rate for the benefit of the poor masses.
“Our salaries cannot take care of our transportation to our offices alone and we are suffering,” he said.
Responding, the State Head of Civil Service, Barr. Abigail Waya commended the workers for conducting themselves in a peaceful manner during the protest.
Waya said already committees for palliative have been constituted by the Federal and State government to cushion the effects of the fuel subsidy removal.
She, therefore promised to intimate Gov. Abdullahi Sule about their issues and submit the letter the protesters presented to the governor.
