Abuja (Sundiata Post) – Organised labour, led by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), on Thursday, handed an 18-point agenda, which include demands that public office holders forfeit assets that they refused to declare, to the Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, at the Presidential Villa.
Both NLC and TUC were led during a protest by Ayuba Wabba and Bobboi Kaigama, respectively.
Addressing the protesters, Osinbajo told the unions that President Muhamnadu Buhari’s administration inherited an economy, where 22 states were owing salaries up to six or eight months and had to offer bail out three times at a time it was losing 60 percent revenue on account of restiveness in the Niger Delta.
The Acting President who lauded the labour leaders for taking up the campaign on behalf of Nigerians to the Villa, said a democratically elected government must constantly report to the people and be accountable to them, hence the reason he was receiving unions, assuring that government will take action on the many demands raised.
According to him, Nigerians must endure the pains of a biting recession if the country would be better as there is no gain without pain.
This week Nigerians have taken to the streets to protest government policies which they say have led to suffering in the country.
On Monday, a huge protest by activists and civil societies was staged in major cities of the country, while the labour unions took to the streets on Thursday.
Osinbajo, while addressing the labour leaders, said the government was still consulting with different groups to get input on the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan to get the country of the biting economic crisis disclosing that government will soon be meeting with labour union and other critical groups.
Meanwhile, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has commended the exemplary conduct and professionalism displayed by the security and allied agencies, particularly the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) during Monday’s protest marches by members of some civil society groups and celebrities for and against the government.
“As we stated earlier, the freedom to protest peacefully is a democratic right and the APC will continue to defend the rights of Nigerians to express their democratic rights no matter how they choose to within the ambits of the law.
“As we continue to consolidate our democracy, the APC urges our security agencies to continue to adhere to the highest standards of professionalism at all times even as they continue to discharge their constitutional duties of protecting the lives and properties of citizens,” it said in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, on Thursday.
APC also appealed to Nigerians to continue to support the Buhari-led administration, and remain steadfast in the face of the current economic challenges.
The party also assured Nigerians that there will be light at the end of the tunnel as there can be no gains without pains, despite the current hardship.
“We, however, assure Nigerians that the APC government will continue to roll out palliative measures to cushion the pangs of the recession even as government continue to work hard to reposition the economy,” it added.