We are protesting the inflation and high cost of living – Kogi NLC Chairman
By Abubakar Suleman
Ahead of today’s nationwide protests spearheaded by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) against the hardship in the Nigeria, demonstrations were held in Lokoja, the state headquarters of kogi state against the cost of living.
The residents gathered at NLC secretariat, lokoja early on Tuesday, staged a peaceful protest. They were seen chanting songs and carrying placards with various inscriptions.
Some of the inscriptions read: ‘End food hike now,’ End hardship,’ among others.
The protest was done peacefully without any disorder or rancour.
The NLC had insisted on the two-day mass protest, which commence today. The chairman of NLC, kogi state chapter, Comrade Gabriel Amari said they decided to join the protest because it was a directive from the national secretariat, ” we are protesting the high prices of food and other commodities, inflation and high cost of living due to the worsening economic situation in the country.
We are operating within the stipulated laws of the Union and not in violation of our constitutional fundamental rights to peaceful protest in the face of economic hardship” he stressed.
Comrade Amari while commending the Kogi State Government on the distribution of Rice palliative to workers equally called for implementation of payment of wage award to Civil Servants across the State and Local Government workforce as a matter of urgency.
The NLC Boss assured the Union’s commitment to the welfare of workers as it will engage the new administration in the State meaningfully to make life better for civil servants as well as move the State forward.
It would be recalled that Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has earlier given an ultimatum to the federal government to address the pervasive hardship in the country decisively or embarked on a two-day national protest on 27 and 28 February.
