Fides Media Living the Faith
By Ikeugonna Eleke
The streets of Awka, the capital city of Anambra State and other major cities in the state were Tuesday deserted over the two days warning strike declared by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
Also, many government offices were devoid of workers, as places like the state and federal secretariats looked scanty.
The NLC leaders, led by the State Chairman, Comrade Humphrey Emeka Nwafor, led a team of members on an enforcement tour, while visiting some ministries and agencies.
Addressing Journalists shortly after the exercise at Teacher’s House, Awka, on Tuesday, the NLC State Chairman said they were joining their counterparts across the country to compel the Federal Government to address the plight of workers and the citizenry at large.
‘As workers, we are badly affected by the economic crisis visited on Nigerians as a result of the hike in the pump price of petrol, all in the name of subsidy removal.
‘We had earlier written to the Federal Government to adjust our wages automatically in line with the existing economic realities but that has fallen on deaf ears.
‘It is over three months now that fuel subsidy had been removed and fuel has equally been increased twice by over 300%, with a price shift from ₦187 to over ₦620 but salaries have remained the same.
‘Workers and Nigerians at large, within this period, have gone through excruciatingly tough times. It has been stories of mass suffering and life has been made almost meaningless to the common citizens.
‘Everything has been nauseating and hunger is now a way of life among Nigerians.
‘You Journalists can see for yourself that the exercise recorded 80 percent success in the state.
‘There was no recorded fracas between us and the workers during the enforcement exercise. The exercise was peaceful and it will continue tomorrow (last Wednesday) by the grace of God.
‘President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Federal Government knows our demands so he should without further delay, do the needful,’ Nwafor said.
The Trade Union Congress (TUC) in the state, was not part of the solidarity movement, just as most banks opened for business.