The Leaders of organised labour met with Acting President Yemi Osinbajo
on Thursday to present a letter bordering on the welfare of Nigerian
workers.
The Members of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) held a protest in Abuja to demand good governance.
Some of their placards read: ‘High Electricity Tariff + Increase in
Fuel Price = Factory Closure, Job Losses’, ‘Stop Importation of
Petroleum Products, Refine at Home’, and ‘Gagging the press is
Encouraging Corruption’.
Addressing reporters after meeting Osinbajo, Ayuba Wabba, president
of the NLC, said they told the acting president that there was a
disconnect between the centre and the state.
“We presented our letter of demands, we reminded him (Osinbajo) that
this is the second time we are marching for good governance, we have
also marched to support the fight against corruption,” he said.
“We told him that despite all that is going on there is no connect
with what is happening at the centre and the states because up till
today, the funds of some local government have not been released.
“Despite the bailout, despite the Paris club up till now we are yet
to see something tangible. We are still discussing the issues of
salaries, pension and gratuity.
“He informed us, that is myself and the TUC president, that they were
cataloguing these things. Everything was documented, see the documents.
“He appreciated the fact that we came in an orderly manner to table our demands, saying that is what is expected.
“He said every item on that agenda is going to receive the attention
of government. We also reminded them that on pensioners because we have
also been at the receiving end.”
Wabba said the government must always consider its citizens when formulating policies.
“Basically this has received a favourable response and attention. All
the three arms of government need to be together, we must have good
laws. They must look at the citizens in whatever policies they churn
out,” he said.