Nigerians can’t continue to suffer like this, says Saraki

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), on Thursday, also took the protest to the National Assembly complex, Abuja, over the rising cost of living in Nigeria.

Wabba, who led the protesters, made it known that the groups were protesting the delay in the upward review of minimum wage amid increasing cost of items in the country.

He said: “We are here to demand for good governance and express our support in the fight against corruption.

“More importantly, we demand for respect for rule of law, greater accountability and transparency in governance,”

The labour leader expressed worry that workers had been the major victims of the fallout of corruption and bad governance.

According to him “Today, the dollar rate is N500 to one dollar and the salaries of Nigerian workers have remained the same. Therefore, we are here to urge the National Assembly to play an important role to ensure that life is made better for Nigerians.

“We cannot succeed if the fight against corruption does not succeed. We appreciate the efforts by the National Assembly to ensure financial autonomy for the local governments and this must be sustained because money meant for the local governments does not get there.’’

Wabba expressed concern that in spite of the bailout funds to states for workers’ salaries, “the living conditions of workers have not been improved because many are not paid.’’

He explained that pensioners in the country were owed up to 77 months and called on the National Assembly to synergise with other arms of government to pay them.

Kaigama said the inflation rate in the country was growing astronomically, adding that it was time for governments at all levels to go back to the drawing board to revamp the economy.

He said: “Nigerians are hungry, the cost of living is high, no houses, no light and factories have gone comatose,’’ Kaigama said.

The Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, said it was time to go into action towards addressing the numerous challenges confronting Nigerians, insisting that “we need to sit down and work out how to make necessary adjustments.”

He said: “It can’t continue this way, the exchange rate is high, cost of things in the market has gone high but only the workers’ salaries remain the same.

“By the next time we will meet, I will tell you what the National Assembly has done to improve the living condition of Nigerians,” Saraki said.