By Umar Faruk, Birnin Kebbi
Following directive from National headquarters of the Nigeria labour congress, the Kebbi state chapter of the union, on Monday held a very low protest in Birnin Kebbi, the Kebbi state capital.
The few protesters convaged at the frontage of Cabinet office opposite Haliru Abdu stadium led by the Kebbi NLC vice chairman comrade Aliyu Abubakar Udu and few other union chairmen and among other labour affliates, the protesters waited for some hours before marching in to the office of the deputy governor, Alhaji Abubakar Umar Tafida to deliver their massage.
In his address at the deputy governor ‘s office, the state Chairman, Nigeria labour congress represented by his vice, comrade Aliyu Abubakar Udu, shortly before presenting the demands document of the union to the deputy governor.
Adding that part of the NLC demands include immediate release of grains to Nigerians as pledged by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, implementation of thirty thousand Naira minimum wage, additional grains to the workers by the state government, minimum wage for local government workers and primary school teachers and implementation of all workers promotions.
The unionist added that, the situation has gone out of hand Nigerians can no longer feeds their family three times daily, therefore government must act fast to avoid the breakdown of law and order saying a hungry man is an angry man.
” We are also appealing on the state government to immediately release the withheld salaries of some local government and LGEAs staff held six months ago by immediate past chairmen, we will no longer tolerate victimisation of workers in the state and elsewhere.
He described the hasty removal of fuel subsidy by the federal government without adequate measures taken before it removal inappropriate and ill-timed as such the federal government must do the needful by taking fast measures to alleviate the suffering of Nigerians and government workers.
While responding the state deputy governor, Senator Abubakar Umar, assumed quick response to the demands of labour union saying the state governor is one of them before he became the governor therefore the expectations are high and all the demands would be addressed as soon as the governor is back to the state”.
” We are pleased with the way you organised the protest in the state capital in a peaceful way, we want to inform you that hardship is a global issue but nonetheless as labour friendly government we will looked at ways of addressing all your demands. He said.
Many people are asking questions of what cause the low turnout of protesters from all the trade union in the state.
Investigation of why many officials of various unions and other members are absent from the protest venue.
According to a reliable source, said state NLC chairman comrade Murtala Usman and his counterpart of TUC Comrade Atiku Alkali are currently in sokoto attending an inauguration of KECHEMA governing Board and orientation meeting at Sokoto Guest inn as part of governing board members.
However among the members of both unions suspect that the absent of some leaders of both unions whether is deliberate to sabotage the protest because there was a lot of complaints peddled round on the top NLC officials and among other unions, infact the complaints for poor and proper Mobilization as well as widespread of invitation to all the members to partake in the planned protest.
Another dismay for the members none embarking on walks rallies in the state capital major roads before marching to the state deputy Gov’s office compared to other state that gone round their state capital before going their government houses to deliver their massages. It only end up in converging in one place and terminate there.
