Leadership of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has blamed recurring and persistent hardship in the country on inability by policy makers to separate governance from politics.
Most people are not able to buy a bag of rice and other food items for Christmas and New Year celebration.
The Labour helmsman stating that only the political class is enjoying dividends of democracy, charged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s regime to address the hardship confronting the masses this 2024.
The president, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Comrade Joe Ajaero who made this known to me, lamented on high cost of living, noting that it is out of reach of the masses.
He called on all Nigerians, irrespective of tribe or religion, to collaborate with organised labour in fight to win the battle as a nation, by transcending differences, spread love and goodwill. “It is in these moments of unity that we find the strength to overcome challenges and build a brighter future for ourselves and generations to come,” he said.
Ajaero also bemoaned the pains and anguish the masses are facing, especially during this festive period, adding that “The hardship in Nigeria especially among poor workers and masses is unparallel.
“In our history as a nation, we have not had this level of angst and deprivation. Food inflation is nearly 40% and other items are unreachable.
“The worst is that you now have an increasing number of people who are working but are poor – unable to afford the basic things in life.
“Others sleep in their offices from Monday to Friday to manage the cost of transportation, others have relocated to houses of friends and relatives closer to their places of work in a bid to manage their meagre income.”
On his part, the Secretary General of Food, Beverage, & Tobacco Senior Staff Employees Association of Nigeria (FOBTOB), Comrade Solomon Adebosin. said the harsh business environment is still robbing the country of good investors, as those who could no longer cope with the harsh business environment are simply shutting down or relocating to other neighbouring African countries.
Lamenting against the way and manner the country is creating labour and wealth for other countries by importing finished products, Adebosin charged Federal Government to create more conducive business environment to achieve industrialisation goal.