Protest: Organised labour wants FG to halt school fees increase

On Wednesday, organised labour in Plateau joined compatriots across the country in the protest against fuel subsidy removal, with a call on The Federal Government to fix Nigeria’s refineries.

The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and its affiliates also called on the government to halt the arbitrary increase of school fees across the country’s higher institutions, as well as the unexplained taxes and utility tariffs.

Mr. Eugene Manji, NLC Chairman in Plateau, while addressing the workers, said that subsidy removal had exposed Nigerians to untold hardship.

Manji said that some Nigerians could barely feed their families because of the harsh economic situation.

“I wonder how many parents will be able to pay their children’s school fees in September?

“The increase in fuel from N195 to N617 has affected every sector of the economy.

“We are not antagonising the government, but we are suffocating under the current economic challenges.

“Before you remove subsidies, fix our refineries, stop importing refined petroleum products, and ensure that every transaction concerning petroleum is done in our local currency (Naira and Kobo),” he stated.

The chairman further appealed to the government to pay attention to the plight of the masses and rescind its decisions.

Mr. Kenneth Shamah, Chairman, Trade Union Congress (TUC), Plateau chapter, said that it was the first time organised labour made a chatter of demands and also suggested practical solutions.

Shamah said that the peaceful protest was not only about workers but about everyone suffering in Nigeria.

According to him, many people can no longer feed their families as many businesses have crumbled.

Prof. Chris Piwuna, National Vice President, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), said that the union had always stood for students and Nigerian citizens.

Piwuna urged the government, and indeed the ruling class, to have a rethink and listen to the cries of the masses.

“There are taxes everywhere; the electricity tariff has gone up; and the cost of food has skyrocketed.

“In the span of just two months, the price of gasoline has gone up by over 300 percent.

“Our leaders should listen, fix our refineries, and go back to the resolutions reached between the Federal Government and the NLC on subsidy removal.

“They should also pay university staff their eight months outstanding salaries,” the ASUU scribe said.