August 02, (THEWILL) – The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Bayelsa State chapter, on Wednesday, joined its counterparts across the country for a peaceful protest against what they described as anti-people policies of the Federal Government.
The peaceful protest, which took off at OMPADEC field, Amarata, Yenagoa, the State capital, was terminated at the State Government House, Onopa.
Presenting a copy of their protest letter to the State Governor, Sen. Douye Diri, the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress in Bayelsa, Comrade Barnabas Simon, said their gathering was in a peaceful solidarity rally with the union’s national leadership to present a letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu through Governor Douye Diri.
“This document is to register our protest to the hardship his policies have brought upon us since he took over leadership of Nigeria. The removal of fuel subsidy was hasty with no thought-out plan to cushion the effects on workers and other Nigerians already in the poverty belt.
“Today, every family feels the fang of the harsh policies of the Government, which has resulted in the astronomical increase in transportation, food, goods and services, tuition fees, rising cost of accessing quality healthcare just to name but a few.
“The Government ought to have looked out for the well-being of its citizenry, but we are beginning to lose faith as today’s reality shows the priority of the government has shifted from that direction.
“Permit me to remind the Government that Organised Labour should have been consulted and brought on board the negotiations table to seek the ways of ameliorating the effects that would have come with subsidy removal on the ordinary Nigerians.
“Consequently, we stand with our national leadership to embark on this peaceful protest rally to register our displeasure over the development in recent months.
“We call on the Federal Government to implement people-centred agreements reached with Organized Labour.”
Barnabas said, in Bayelsa, Labour is happy with Governor Douye Diri, who has always given priority to the welfare of workers.
“We are confident that you share in our plight and appreciate what we are going through under the prevailing circumstances, which are beyond your purview. Labour is looking forward to some pronouncement from our Miracle Governor on plans by the Government to cushion the effects fuel subsidy removal has brought on workers, especially in the areas of transportation, and tuition fees amongst others.”
Receiving the letter on behalf of Governor Douye Diri, the Commissioner for Labour, Employment and Productivity, Hon. Stanley Braboke, said Governor Diri’s government is people-oriented to create a conducive environment for workers, adding that the launching of Prosperity Tax was to cushion the effects of the fuel subsidy removal.
“The transport system is not for profit making but for Bayelsans to have affordable transport fare along the street and the road of Bayelsa. Fuel subsidy removal is not the making of the State Government,” he said.
