The organised labour in Kogi on Wednesday, embarked on a peaceful protest to express their grievance over the current hardships facing workers all over the nation.
Members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) trooped out in their large numbers as early as 7 am to converge at Ganaja junction, Lokoja and marched through some major streets of the state capital.
The protesting workers with various placards lamented the high cost of living as a result of the removal of fuel subsidy and called on the federal government to reverse all its anti-people policies that caused hardship for Nigerians.
Kogi State Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Gabriel Amari, said the protest was borne out of the unpleasant hardship being faced by Nigerians, adding that if urgent measures are not put in place, it might lead to national chaos.
“Nigerians are passing through the worst moment in their lives. This is not the renewed hope President Tinubu promised us when we wanted to vote him. All the anti people policies must be reverse immediately before things get out of hand,” Amari lamented.
Presenting a five point demands to Kogi State Government, Amari said the union is requesting the Government to implement the resolution signed with the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress.
Mr Samuel Obajemu, the state TUC Vice Chairman said the national protests were to express their grievances over the high cost of living due to the removal of fuel subsidy.
He noted that the subsidy removal had caused untold hardships on the Nigerian worker and the entire masses.
He added that the untold hardship could aggravate crime rate in the society.
“We expect that before the removal of fuel subsidy, some tangible palliatives should have been in place and that is what we are agitating for.
“We are not fighting against any government or their officials, we are only agitating that the government should have mercy on the masses.
“Organised labour is appealing to the government to have mercy on the masses, because it is the masses that voted for them.
“We are appealing to the government to please listen to the cries of the masses,” Obajemu said.
Responding, the Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello who was represented by his Deputy Chief Edward Onoja, commended workers for the peaceful protest, adding that the government will pass the message of workers to the appropriate authority.
According to him, every Nigerians feels the impact of the fuel subsidy removal, stressing that the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led government will ensure that the yearning of Nigerians are met within the shortest possible time.
