The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Rivers State chapter has ordered its members to observe sit-at-home from Monday, pending when the government addresses the current fuel and cash scarcity crisis rocking Nigeria.
Explaining the reason behind the development, the state chairperson, Mrs Beatrice Itubo, in an interview said the civil servants in Rivers were directed to stay at home because the scarcity of fuel was affecting workers’ income.
She added that their members were facing untold hardship and would not continue living in such a condition.
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Itubo said:
“It is not a threat. It is not a strike. It is a sit-at-home directive. I have issued a press release and it is starting from Monday.
“Workers cannot be spending the salaries on the huge transport fare and other issues. We can’t continue this. If government fails to address these problems, from where will they get money to be spending on transportation.”
Another victim of the cash saga in Port Harcourt, Mike Chikere, who is self-employed, stated he had begged a POS operator on Sunday to give him five thousand naira but was given the option to pay N1,500 for the amount.
He said:
“I had no option than to collect N3,500. It’s very painful to parents that have children. You can’t endure watching your family members starve.
“I went to several POS operators today (Sunday). Other places were telling me they would give me N1,000 but would collect N200, meaning N800 I will go home with.
“Another person (POS operator) said each N500 I will pay N100. I am confused I don’t what is happening. I don’t know if other people are passing through what I am going through.”
