Segun Ayinde, Abeokuta
Nigeria Labour Congress(NLC) Ogun State chapter, on Tuesday, protested against continued economic hardship and consistence increase in the prices of goods and services due to the removal of fuel subsidy.
The workers who lamented the skyrocketing increase prices of food items, said that the purpose of the protest was to get a good deal for Nigerians in order to reduce the hardship.
NLC Chairman in the state, Hammed Ademola-Benco, while speaking with newsmen before embarking on the protest, expressed regret that Nigerians could no longer bear the hunger and suffering due to the increase in the prices of goods and services.
Ademola Benco said that some promises made by the government to the workers were yet to be fulfilled while calling on the government to consider their demands as such would help to reduce the hardship if they were met
He expressed satisfaction on the demonstration saying that about 40 leadership of affiliate union were on ground for the protest, urging the government to urgently come out with policies that would reduce the economic hardship to make life enjoyable
“this protest rally is about getting good deals for the people of the country. The truth is that people are suffering, many Nigerians are hungry, the prices of food has reached the rooftop”.
“The wage award that they promised are still not being paid by many states, the government must stop carrying on as if all is well. We are only calling on the government to be responsible and attend to our demands which is about making lives more rewarding and enjoyable for the people” he added.
Also speaking at the rally,Comrade Yinka Folarin, the National Vice President, Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, CDHR, said it was unfortunate that a government that promised renewed hope for Nigerians has just further dashed the hope of the common man in the country.
Folarin wondered why the federal government could not secure the lives of farmers when they go to farm as fear of being attack had made some of the neglect their farms resulting to the scarcity of food and increase in the prices.
“for instance insecurity is one of the contributing factors to scarcity of food and the exorbitant prices, this government has not demonstrated enough commitment to serve Nigerians. Things must change because Nigerians did not file out last year February to vote for hardship and the way things are in the country” he noted.
The security agencies such as the police, DSS and operatives of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC are on ground to maintain law and order.