Emmanuel Awari-Jalingo
The protest organized by the Taraba State Chapter of the labour comprising the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), against the hike in price of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol), recorded a large turnout, as workers troop to Government House, Jalingo, demanding for the reversal of anti-people policies.
The workers drawn from Labour Union affiliates, converged at the Labour Sectariat as early as 7am.
Addressing the workers at the government house gate, Taraba state governor, Dr. Agbu Kefa appreciate the workers and assured them that issues of their wages would be looked into.
He said that he will roll out palliative to reduce hardship of the people.
“I will roll out my administration’s palliative strategies to alleviate the effect of fuel subsidy removal next week.
“I have already instructed the secretary to the government of the state (SGS), to invite both labour leaders, marketers, road transport workers and school head teachers for a round table meeting to strategize on how the palliative idea would impact on the poor masses.
“Let me appeal to labour unions to be patient and ask relevant questions on how the plan palliative would impact the poor masses.
“I wish to also appeal to Nigerians to be patient about the fuel subsidy removal and ask relevant questions about how the plan palliative would impact positively on the lives of the poor masses – he said.
“I wish to disclose here that my palliative strategies would be rollout next week to alleviate the effect of fuel subsidy remover for Tarabans.
“I have already instructed the SGS to invite both labour leaders, marketers, road transport workers and school head teachers for a round table meeting to strategize on how the palliative idea would impact on the poor masses – he added.
Earlier, the Chairman of NLC in Taraba State, Comrade Peter Jediel, called on government to do everything possible to reduce the hike in the price of Premium Motor Spirit otherwise known as Petrol and high cost of living.
“All we need is a living wage, government should do everything to reduce cost of living and transportation”
“The so called minimum wage has become nothing, Nigerians must breathe.
“This protest march is against the ruling class, that we can no longer put food on our table, we can no longer transport ourselves from one place to the other, as a result of high price of petrol”
“We as Nigerian workers are telling the government to do the right thing.
On his part, the Taraba State State Chairman of Trade Union Congress (TUC) Comrade Sule Abasu, appreciated the governor for settling salaries of Local government staff and Teachers.
“Local government staff and Teachers were without salaries for months, but with your coming, they and their families are rejoicing.
He call on the governor to look into their demands with a view to solving them.
According to NLC/TUC, their demands are as follows:
- March for survival of Nigeria and Nigerians Nigerians say no to anti people policies
- FG should adopt CNG as alternative to fuel FG: Why protect subsidy criminals???
- Increase in fuel price = Increase in poverty and criminality
- N8, 000:00 palliative to households: An insult to Nigerians • We call on FG, to implement people centered agreements reached with Organised Labour
- Incessant increase in fuel price responsible for inflation, poverty and unemployment
. We condemn increase in school fees
Increase in School fees will cause increase numbers of out of school children
- NNPCL a private company should not determine fuel price for us
- We protest against suppression of and suffering of the Nigerian People.
Hunger and poverty do not know any tribe, religion, party, or geo political arrangement.