By ANDREW OJIEZEL
Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), Joint Action Front (JAF) today fulfilled their pledge, embarked on strike against the hike in electricity tariff and in fuel price.
The organized labour with civil societies, led by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Vice President, Comrade Amaechi Asugwuni, JAF General Secretary, Comrade Abiodun Aremu, Human Right Activist, Barrister Malachi Ugwumadu, and others, noted that Nigerians have lost confidence in the regime of President Muhammadu Buhari .
Speaking with National Daily, NLC Vice President, Comrade Asugwuni stated that the main reason for this protest march was to checkmate the excesses of President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration which is making thing difficult for Nigerians.
“Prices of things are gradually going beyond the reach of average Nigerian. As labour is mouthpiece of the common man, labour will not fold its arms and allow this to continue as there were before.”
Also speaking with National Daily during the 25 kilomtre protest march from NLC Secretariat, Yaba, to Nigeria Airport, Ugwumadu stated that protest march was imperative to defeat the oppressive-governance of Buhari and his team.
“This is a regime that came to power with change slogan. As soon as they came in, they revised that policy into oppressive of the masses. Buhari regime is anti-masses, promoting the rich and suppressing the poor masses.
“We are here to express our dismay at the increase because the suffering of Nigerian masses must stop,” Malachi stressed.
Likewise, in his remark, Aremu stated that the Buhari-led government came out with the pretense of being people-friendly government. But gradually, he started displaying anti-people policies. Initially, he banned use of small/portable generator, he priced kerosene out of the reach of the poor, he suddenly increased electricity tariff as soon as he and his team banned use of portable generators. How will the people coop, no kerosene, no electricity, and then he went ahead to increase fuel price from N86.50k to N145, we will not allow this to happen.
“Nigerians must join the struggle against World Bank policy of privatization and deregulation. The rich class of profiteers and looters cannot defend the working people, the poor and the oppressed anywhere. Price of petrol must revert to N86.50 and electricity must revert to pre-February 2016 2016. The wicked increases in fuel and electricity tariff are a product of the capitalist neoliberal policies of deregulation and privatization.
Policies of deregulation and privatization, in essence and always are punishment to the working people and the poor.
“They are policies that as a rule, must make lives miserable for the poor at the expense of the few rich looters. With the deregulation and privatization, there will continue to be hike among other things in electricity and welfare, commercialisation of education and healthcare, poor living conditions, job losses and unemployment.”
In addition, Aremu stated that as deregulation and privatization policies are dictated by greed, profit-seeking and looting, the policies are bound to increase the sufferings and deprivation of the poor masses and working people, irrespective of which regime is in political power.
“Remember freedom cannot be gotten on platter of gold, it must be fought for, and thus, we are fighting for the freedom of the ordinary Nigerian from the clutches of oppressors.”