Subsidy removal: Protesters shut down business activities in Kano

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The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) protest on Wednesday over fuel subsidy removal shut down business activities in the ancient city of Kano, as virtually all shops were locked.

This was just as the security operatives, the Nigeria police, Civil Defence and other para-military, as early as 6 am have taken over major strategic locations in Kano, the state capital to prevent unforeseen circumference and any attempt by hoodlums to hijack the protest.

However, members of labour across the state and various companies assembled at the Murtala Muhammad Library also with other union leaders assembled at the venue where the event commenced

After many solidarity messages delivered by some activists, the members embarked on trekking a distance of about two kilometers from Murtala Muhammed Library where the leader of NLC, Comrade Kabir Inuwa delivered a letter to the State Secretary to Government, Dr. Bappar Bichi, who represented the state governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.

However, before the commencement of NLC started their trekking from Murtala Muhammed Library, the SSG Dr. Bappar Bichi at 8 am, was in their presence.

He urged them not to trek to the State government house but the NLC does not buy the idea and they insisted that they must present their letter which contained their demands to Governor Yusuf.

The placards by members of the union reads: ‘ No to subsidy removal’, ‘No increment in students fees in University’, ‘Stop dancing to IMF’, ‘World Bank policies’, ‘Repair the moribund refinery’,’Tinubu you are not feeling our pains’

While presenting the letter to the SSG, Bichi, who represented Governor, Yusuf, the state chairman of the NLC Alhaji Kabir Inuwa said most of the policies embarked upon by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had caused untold hardship to the teeming masses of the country

Inuwa also added that the most annoying policy was the removal of fuel subsidy, which he said has caused risen in the prices of commodities in the market

He further stated that “the present minimum wage can not even buy a bag of rice not to take care of a family hence the need for government to listen to the view of the generality of the country who were expressing their displeasure over unfriendly policies of the Federal government.”

While receiving the letter on behalf of the governor, Bichi , said “The government is happy that the labour union protest was peaceful.

He, however, disclosed that the present government headed by Governor Yusuf was in a good cordial relationship with NLC.

Bichi informed the NLC of plans by the state government to procure grains and other items necessary to alleviate the myriad challenges the masses were facing in view of the removal of subsidy.

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