PARIS OLYMPIC GAMES
By Ajuma Edwina Ameh and Samuel Akpan
As the organized labor on Wednesday made good their threat to embark on mass protests across the country over the hardships Nigerians are going through following the removal of petrol subsidy by the Bola Tinubu administration, many Nigerians have expressed divergent views on the protest.
While some are of the opinion that the protest, led by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), other aggrieved Nigerian workers, and civil organizations is necessary and long overdue, others said it was unnecessary as President Tinubu just got into office.
Persecondnews reports that the labor movement under the aegis of NLC and TUC is accusing the government of insincerity and lack of commitment to come up with immediate, short term and long-term measures to cushion the excruciating pains, hunger, and other effects of the abrupt subsidy removal.
Workers in public and private sectors came out en mass as early as 7a.m across the country especially in Abuja, the nation’s capital, Lagos, Kano, Ibadan, Osogbo, Abeokuta, Kaduna among others for the protest which was generally peaceful.
Tinubu had on May 29, 2023, removed subsidy on petrol during his inauguration speech with a liter of petrol jumping from N184 to over N620 and above.
The increase in petrol price has also affected food prices, public transportation as well as goods and services.
The union is demanding an upward review of the minimum wage from N30,000, saying that since the subsidy removal, “the peace of mind of Nigerians has gone”.
A Nigeria Labour Congress protest message obtained by Persecondnews reads: “Nigerians say no to anti-people policies; FG should adopt CNG as an alternative to fuel; increase in fuel price equals Increase in poverty and criminality; hunger and poverty do not know any tribe, religion, party or geo-political arrangement.
“N8,000 palliative to households: An insult to Nigerians; We call on FG, to implement people-centered agreements reached with organized labor; 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; we protect against the suppression and sufferings of the Nigerian people; and let us unite in the struggle for the emancipation of the people.”
Speaking exclusively to Persecondnews, some Nigerians, who expressed their views on the protest, were in support, while others were against the protest.
A taxi driver, who gave his name as Wale Olu, is of the view that President Tinubu just got into office and needed time to fix the country’s economy and other ailing sectors, adding that the protest is unnecessary.
“There is no justification for the protest. Tinubu has addressed the nation on what he intends to do. If after a month, we don’t see any new development or improvement, labor can decide to go on strike.
“They are just rushing him. He is trying his best, he is not a magician, and he can’t fix Nigeria in less than three months. Let labor give him a little time at least he is making an effort unlike our former President (Buhari) that left us in the dark.
“I see the protest as a distraction, they should allow him to concentrate on fixing the country. I believe he will if given time,” Olu said.
Also speaking, a civil servant at the Federal Secretariat, Abuja, who simply identified himself as Matthew, said the protest was long overdue.
According to him, the only way President Tinubu can cushion the effect of the removal of subsidy on fuel is to increase the minimum wage of civil servants to about N200,000.
“With N200,000 minimum wage, civil servants won’t feel the impact of the subsidy removal. Of course, he can sustain it with the money being recovered from the removal of subsidy.
“The federal government also needs to open the borders to allow free flow of food, especially rice. I listened to his live broadcast on Monday evening and he talked about N50 billion for the cultivation of rice and maize and N50 billion for wheat and cassava.
“As far as insecurity has not been addressed, I see it as a waste of money. How will farmers go to the farm to cultivate when their safety is not assured when their lives are being threatened every day by herdsmen?
“Before the president can do anything concerning food or farming, he has to tackle insecurity first,” Matthew told PSN.
Also speaking, another civil servant, Mrs. Cynthia Ude, said Nigerians are tired of and rattled by the hardships currently imposed on them.
“Everyone is tired. The hardship is too much. Nigerians have gotten to a point where they can’t even endure any longer and everyone is angry.
” If the protest is the only thing that will draw the president’s attention to our plight and make him act fast, I’m 100 percent in support,” Ude said.
Persecondnews reports that the protest didn’t affect movement or businesses in the Federal Capital Territory as people went about their normal businesses without any let or hindrance.
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