The Nigeria Labour Congress Gombe State chairman, Yusuf Bello, on Tuesday delivered letter to the state government for submission to President Bola Tinubu, decrying food insecurity amid removal of fuel subsidy.
Bello, who led members from Labour House to Pantami Township Stadium urged the Federal Government to suspend any of its ongoing projects to mitigate suffering of workers.
According to him, following perceived paucity of resources the available funds should be redirected to cushioning the challenges of workers.
Bello said, “The removal of fuel subsidy has caused the hard condition we found ourselves. People are just moving without knowing where to go to because of hunger which is biting. We are here to present the displeasure of the working people and generality of people of Nigeria. If you could recall vividly we had insisted that before subsidy is removed there should be certain measures to cushion the effect. There is no plan to cushion the effect as it stands now common man can’t have two square meal per day, even those trying to cope with the situation it’s hard for them to eat twice.
“We presenting our grievances to government because we create the wealth and since we create the wealth, we deserve the right to eat from it even if it requires government to suspend any project to channel income to food security. It’s highly needed, because wherever, you eat and become satisfied definitely there will be security with hunger insecurity will continue to increase.”
While describing the first day of the two-day protest as peaceful, Bello encouraged residents to support labour’s move to soften the economic situation of citizens “Today, we have done it peacefully, tomorrow we are going to do it peacefully by the grace of God. I want to call on government to look into the plight of the general public, not only civil servants the condition is biting harder. The country is in quagmire and we don’t know where we are heading to,” he added.
On his part, Governor Muhammadu Yahaya, who was represented by Deputy Governor Dr Manassah Jatau, said officials were not oblivious of the hardship, adding that the letter would be submitted to the president as requested.
“We that are here are not exonerated from what you are suffering from. As a good leader, whatever your subordinates are facing is what you are facing. I can tell you that we are together in all your plight.
“The letter is addressed to our own father I can assure you as a good messengers and as a post office. However, I want to thank everyone that came here for the peaceful conduct,” Yahaya added.
