Mohammed Shosanya
The National Assembly leadership has set up a special Committee to review the grievances of the workforce in the country.
The development was sequel to Wednesday’s protest staged by members of the organised labour over the subsidy removal policy of the federal government.
The committee which is expected to be convened and sit within seven working days will among other things review some of the factors that led to a breakdown of truce between the federal government and the organised labour.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio gave this assurance while through his representative, Senator Ali Ndume, Chief Whip of the Senate, when the protesters numbering over 5000 stormed the National Assembly.
The lawmakers said it aligns with the protest of the workers and support their struggle.
“We have keenly followed what is going on when we realized that there was a breakdown in the discussions between the Presidency and Labour. I want to assure you that we will find a permanent solution to this.
“Please give us one week and we will make progress and if you are not satisfied with the progress we are making, then you can take further actions.A committee has been setup to look into the demands of organised labour,” he added.
He assured that by close of the day or tomorrow, they will call the first meeting with labour to start the discussions and the engagements would continue.
“We will do our best as your representatives to come out with solutions acceptable to you and realistic enough,”he said.
He also assured that the letter which contained their demands and terms of reference would be handed over to the leadership of the Senate.
The protest which was peaceful saw some of the protesters carrying placards with inscription such as; “Stop Corruption, Not Subsidy”,We Condemn Increase in School Fees, “Stop Importation of Petrol, Revive the Refineries,” ”Increase in Price of Fuel Responsible for Inflation, Poverty among others.
Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Mr Joe Ajaero said the mass protest was to express workers’ frustrations and grievances over what he described as anti-poor policies that had brought hardship on Nigerians.
He said: ”For almost two months now, we have been engaged in discussions without fruitfulness. We got frustrated.”
He,however,said that the demands of the labour include the immediate implementation of the resolutions jointly signed with organised Labour and government.
Ajaero also sought immediate reversal of all anti-poor policies of government including the recent hike in PMS price, school fees and VAT.
He also urged the Federal Government to fix the countrys’ local refineries in Porthacourt, Warri and Kaduna.
Ajaero also stated that government should order the release of eight months withheld salaries of university lecturers.
“Accord appropriate recognition and support to the Presidential Steering Committee and the work of its sub-‘committees.We want government to put a stop to in-human actions and policies of government,” he added.
Festus Osifo, President of the Trade Union Congress lamented the cost of governance in Nigeria, saying a reduction would be necessary.
He accused the government of being “insensitive to the plight of the masses.”
“The Nigerian masses have been battered. They have gone through excruciating pains but in all of this, we have not heard what the President has to say about the cost of governance.We want you in the National Assembly to show sacrifice. We want you to cut down your budget.
“We want you to buy Nigerian made cars and not imported vehicles because you are creating jobs over there and importing poverty here.We want you to show leadership because we elected you to work for us,” he said.
