The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Ondo has asked President Bola Tinubu to help end the historic hardship in the country by taxing the rich and subsidising the poor.
They made the demand during a street demonstration in Akure to protest the continuous high cost of living and inflation on February 27.
The NLC also wants the government to reject policies from international organisations like the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank, and instead focus on policies that would benefit the citizens.
They also urged the government to fix local refineries and end the subsidy for imported petroleum products.
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Ondo chair of NLC, Victor Amoko, said:
“Let the government reject IMF and World Bank policy so that the entire citizens will also have a breathing space. Stop the profligacy of government. They should tax the rich and subsidise the poor. Fix local refinery too and end the subsidy. Stop school fees increase.”
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who addressed the protesters, stated that the Ondo government also felt the suffering of the masses.
He acknowledged that the issue of labour and workers were very critical to the governor, and that his government was taking proactive steps to reduce the level of hardship by ensuring that arrears of workers were cleared.
The governor also revealed that the state was planning to roll out Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses, which had already been purchased and would soon be out for use in different parts of the state.
Aiyedatiwa, who was
represented by the head of service, Kayode Ogundele said:
“The issue of labour and workers are very critical to the governor. That is why we take your issue seriously. For some time now, we have been enjoying peace and harmony.
“This government has taken proactive steps to ensure the level of hardship is reduced by ensuring it cleared arrears of workers and It is one of the steps to keep the workforce going in the face of economic reality in the country.”
The NLC’s demand is coming at a time when many Nigerians are struggling to make ends meet due to the high cost of living and inflation.
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