…praise NLC President, Joe Ajaero
Youths of Nigeria under the auspices of Nigerian Youths Movement (NYM) have revealed their resolve to join the ongoing indefinite Strike action declared by the joint leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), describing the industrial action as last resort to save the country.
NYM in a Press Statement dated June 3, 2024 and jointly signed by its Ag. National Convener, Mr. Francis Japheth and Secretary, Abdullahi Yusuf regretted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has allegedly allowed the direction of his administration to be determined by people who have no interest in the progress of Nigeria.
The Youth group while commending the President of NLC for taking the bold step to demand for better welfare packages for Nigerian workers also noted that the rejection of the hiked electricity tariff by the organized Labour was a battle towards saving Nigeria’s economy and Nigerians.
Parts of the statement reads “We wish to express our deep disappointment in the turn of events regarding the administration of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
We have watched many video clips and have read many articles in which Mr. President and key members of his administration were quoted to have made open statements suggesting that they had no solution to this current worsening economic situation in the country.
“It is hard to state here clearly that our dear nation is bleeding but without any iota of saving solution being preferred by our current leaders.
Before we go on, we would love to ask our dear President and the leadership of the National Assembly the following questions:
- What is preventing the kickoff of operations of all the moribund Refineries in Nigeria, one year after subsidy was removed?
2. Why is gas still being wastefully flared in Nigeria by Oil Companies whereas most Nigerians can no longer afford a kilogram of gas for cooking due to exorbitant rate?
3. What is the yardstick used in arriving at the conclusion of increasing electricity tariff whereas the income of an average Nigerian has not been increased in anyway?
4. On May 29, 2023, President Bola Tinubu announced the total removal of fuel subsidy. He promised Nigerians that Port Harcourt Refinery will begin refining petrol in few months while other refineries like those in Kaduna, Warri, etc will soon join. Refining petrol in Nigeria would have helped reduce pressure on the Naira while also strengthening the currency.
Why do President Tinubu and his NNPCL ‘boys’ keep shifting the commencement date of the Port Harcourt Refinery? Is there anything they or their cronies are benefitting from the sufferings of Nigeria?
5. What value has President Tinubu-led government added by way of increased income to Nigerian workers and citizens to have warranted the increment in electricity tariff?
6. Apart from the claims of sharing the money reportedly ‘saved’ from the payment of fuel subsidy to state governors who can not account for its usage, how has President Tinubu used the money to improve the welfare of Nigerian workers and citizens?
7. Why did it take the National Assembly few days to pass into Law, the newly reintroduced National Anthem, but is taking the same National Assembly nearly a year to cause Dangote and other cement manufacturers to reduce prices of cement?”.
While calling on its members across Nigeria to accord the NLC and TUC all the necessary support and solidarity by joining the peaceful demonstration, NYM urged them to law-abiding and cautious in their conduct.
“In view of the above stated points, it has become glaring that the organized labour must be accorded all the necessary support and encouragement.
We hereby direct all our members across Nigeria to join the peaceful demonstration being led by the leadership of NLC and TUC.
We urge you all to be law-abiding in your conducts, avoiding actions capable of denting the good intentions of the Labour Movements. We must join hands with the organised Labour to achieve the onerous task of calling the President Tinubu government to account”.