May Day: Life Unbearable, Worsened Considerably Under Tinubu in Nigeria – NLC, TUC
As Nigeria commemorated International Workers’ Day, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) expressed that life for Nigerians and workers has been marked by hardship during President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
Benson Upah, NLC’s Head of Information and Public Affairs, and TUC President Festus Osifo expressed deep concern over the dire economic conditions.
They cited soaring inflation, foreign exchange instability, food price spikes, and energy shortages as major challenges.
Upah emphasized the deteriorating quality of life under Tinubu’s leadership, attributing it to policies such as fuel subsidy cuts, persistent currency woes, and electricity tariff hikes.
These measures, according to him, exacerbate the financial strain on citizens and workers alike.
The NLC spokesperson appealed to Tinubu to reconsider these policies in order to improve 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 percent, and food inflation is a minimum of 40 percent. The devaluation of the Naira. After these policy announcements. The value of the Naira decreased by about 200 percent, and after a while, Nigerians started hoping that the Naira would regain its strength and stability. There were other storms.
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“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.
In the midst of it all, the President of the TUC, Osifo, has urged both federal and state governments to prioritize the well-being of workers.
During the Pre-May Day Lecture in Abuja on Wednesday, Osifo emphasized the importance of placing the welfare and interests of the populace at the forefront of government policies.
Speaking through the Deputy President of TUC, Comrade Eitm Okon, at the event, Osifo highlighted the significance of the 2024 May Day theme, “Workers First.” He stressed the imperative of prioritizing both the people and workers in all governmental initiatives.
“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.
