Protest will give room for negotiations with government – Kwara NLC
By Saka Laaro,Ilorin
Chairman, Kwara Chapter, Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Saheed Muritala, has expressed optimism that the protest by the labour union would give room for negotiations and stakeholders meeting with the government.
Comrade Muritala told newsmen at the start of the protest on Tuesday in Ilorin that he believed the meetings and dialogue after the protest would provide solutions to some of the problems being faced in the country.
Nigerian NewsDirect reports that the national body of the labour union directed its chapters to join in a two-days protest on the increase in prices of goods and services across the country starting from Tuesday.
”The purpose of the protest is to let the government know that they need to restrategise on some of their policies especially on economy and security.
”This is because with insecurity, no matter how rich you are, your life isnt safe.
“And for the economy, we need to strengthen the naira, why are we dollarising our economy when our currency is Naira?
”After the protest, I believe government will give room for negotiations involving all stakeholders through which solutions to some of the problems will be provided.
”And when that is done, there is no need for any action again from us, all what we are yearning for is for the common man to live a good life,” he said.
A former NLC chairman in the state, Comrade Emmanuel Ayeoribe, said the protest was in the collective interest of workers and Nigerians and not any selfish interest.
He said workers today will become retired tomorrow, so it was imperative to work things out now through our collective actions.
Comrade Victoria Agboola who spoke on behalf of the women workers said all the citizens demand is to live a good life.
She said women as managers of the home have nothing to manage again as things has already fallen apart with the per second price increase of goods and services.
Chairman Nigeria Union of Journalists, Kwara Council, Mr Ahmed Latif, urged the state governors to put different measures in place that would ease the pain the citizens were going through since the emergence of the present administration eight months ago.
Responding to the protesters, the Permanent Secretary, Establishment and Training, Office of the Head of Service, Mr Mohammed Ibrahim urged the protesters to be patient and show understanding because the inflation and high cost of things was a global thing.
He said the state Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq was already putting measures in place to ameliorate the effects on the people.
Mr Ibrahim added that the governor was a listening governor ready to listen to the yearnings of the people.
