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By Amos Odhe, Yenagoa
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Bayelsa chapter also joined their counterparts across the country for peaceful protest rally against what they described as anti-people policies of the the Federal Government.
The peaceful protest rally which took off at OMPADEC field Amarata in the heart of the state capital, Yenagoa, terminated at the state government House gate Onopa.
Presenting a copy of their protest letter to the state governor, Sen. Douye Diri, the chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress in Bayelsa, comrade Barnabas Simon said, the gathering was in a peaceful solidarity rally with the union’s national leadership to present a letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu through Governor Douye Diri.
“This document is to registered our protest to the hardship his policies have brought upon us since he took over leadership of Nigeria.The removal of fuel subsidy was hasty with no thought-out plan to cushion the effects on workers and other Nigerians already at the poverty belt.
“Today, every family feels the fang of the harsh policies of government which has resulted in the astronomical increase in transportation, food, goods and services, tuition fees, rising cost in accessing quality healthcare just to name but a few,” he said.
According to Barnabas, government ought to have look out for the wellbeing of it’s citizenry, but we are beginning to loose faith as today reality shows the priority of government has shifted from that direction, adding that it was expected that Labour would have been consulted and bring onboard before the removal of the subsidy.
“Permit me to remind government that organised labour would have been consulted and brought on board the negotiations table to seek the ways and of ameliorating the effects that would have come with subsidy removal on the ordinary Nigerians.
“Consequently, we stand with our national leadership to embark on this peaceful protest rally to register our displeasure over the development in recent months”.
According to the statement, the march was for the survival of Nigeria and Nigerians, Nigerians say no to anti people policies, Federal Government should adopt CNG as alternative to fuel.
“We call on Federal Government to implement people centered agreements reached with Organized Labour.
“Incessant increase in fuel price responsible for inflation, poverty and unemployment. We condemn increase in school fees, increase in school fees will cause increased number of out of school children.”
The statement further said, NNPCL a private company should not determine fuel price for us. “We protest against suppression and suffering of the Nigerian people.
Hunger and poverty do not know any tribe, religion, party, or geopolitical arrangement”.
Barnabas said, in bayelsa, Labour is happy with Governor Douye Diri who has always given priority to the welfare of workers.
“We are confident that you share in our plight and appreciates what we are going through under the prevailing circumstances which are beyond your purview. Labour is looking forward to some pronouncement from our Miracle governor on plans by government cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal has brought on workers especially in the areas of transportation, tuition fees amongst others”.
Receiving the letter on behalf of Governor Douye Diri, the commissioner for Labour, Employment and Productivity, Hon. Stanley Braboke said, governor Douye Diri government is people oriented policy to create a conducive environment for workers and welfare.
He said, the launching of Prosperity Tax was to cushion the effects of the fuel subsidy removal. “The transport system is not for profit making, but for bayelsans to have affordable transport fare along the street and along the road of bayelsa”.
“Fuel subsidy removal is not the making of the state government.”
Plycards at held by the protesters includes: ‘Why protect subsidy criminals,’ ‘Increase in fuel price = increase in poverty and criminality,’ ‘#8,000:00 palliative to 12 million household, an insult to Nigerians.’
