Comrade Kayode Matins, the chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has called the federal government’s stance insensitive and stated that the expense of living in Nigeria has increased to an intolerable level.
Speaking to reporters in Ibadan, Oyo State, Martins lamented the federal government’s choice to ignore urgent economic concerns that have a direct bearing on labourers in favour of unimportant matters like playing the old national song.
He pointed out that the workers had to take radical measures to get their voices heard because the government was obviously out of touch with the needs of the people and unwilling to listen to their concerns.
“The government’s attitude towards our plight is callous and insensitive,” he declared. When there are more pressing concerns affecting Nigerians’ lives, particularly those of workers, they could care less about switching back to the previous national song. They have no empathy for the predicament of labourers.
Saying, “The cost of living is unbearable,” Matins bemoaned the deteriorating economic circumstances that the majority of people were facing.
With no end in sight, the cost of products and services is constantly growing, and the government does nothing to stop it. We cannot continue to watch helplessly as they treat us poorly because the people are suffering, he declared.
The demands and interests of the Nigerian people must be accorded the consideration they merit, he continued, adding that the labour force will not back down in its fight for justice.
We’re willing to stick with it through to the end to make sure their issues are taken seriously and their voices are heard.
The government needs to understand that it cannot continue to overlook the suffering of the people. He declared, “The time for change is now, and we won’t stop working towards that change.”