Anambra workers have bemoaned the withdrawal of the wage award announced by the state governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, to cushion the effect of the withdrawal of fuel subsidy on them.
Earlier last year, the governor had announced the introduction of the wage award of N12,000 per worker in September, for four months, to end in December 2024.
But during the nationwide protest of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, held by the State Chapter on Tuesday in Awka, Anambra State capital, the workers regretted why the governor would remove the wage awards when the hardship that occasioned its introduction has not abated.
During the protest, the workers moved from Aroma junction to the state government House, Awka and back, to register their displeasure over the rising cost of living and the hardship which Nigerians face, as directed by the NLC national leadership.
Also present during the protest, were operatives of the Nigeria Police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, who accompanied the protesters as they marched through the streets of the state capital.
Addressing the workers, Â the State NLC Chairman, Comrade Humphery Nwafor noted that removal of the wage award means increased suffering for the masses.
Noting that there is serious hunger in the land, the Anambra labour leader observed that the spate of insecurity can not be divorced from the obvious hardship in the land.
He explained that the protest was in line with the directive of the national body of the NLC, in protest against the policies of the Federal Government that have impoverished the Nigerian masses.
He said “We are marching against the policies of the Federal Government that has meted hardship on the entire citizenry, not only the workers.
“There is hunger in the land. Workers cannot pay house rent nor can they afford their children’s school fees and their wages can no more take them home.
“There is high rate of insecurity in the country and that is why the NLC is asking all Nigerians to rise and raise their voices to cry out to the Federal Government over what is happening.
“Enough is enough and we want the government to sit up and salvage the condition of the teeming masses.”
Nwafor who maintained that the protest is a peaceful one, urged the workers not to be violent and ensure that they conduct themselves in an orderly manner, while the protest lasts.
On his part, the State NLC Vice Chairman, Comrade Ifeanyichukwu Nweke, who represents the National Union of Electricity Employees, noted that the need to protest at this time can not be overemphasized, considering the severe hardship the masses are faced with.
Describing the opposition political parties in the country as toothless bulldogs, Nweke maintained that the workers are clearly the opposition now, hence the need to protest.
He revealed that Anambra is not paying the N30,000 minimum wage, yet, it has withdrawn the wage award.
“The workers, not just the poor, needs to breathe.
“It is a shameful thing that the Anambra is not paying the minimum wage and we are calling on the State Governor, as an economist, who understands the economy very well, to do something about this.
“The wage awards should be restored, while efforts continue to ensure that the minimum wage is paid, in line with present-day economic realities,” he posited.
On his part, the Chairperson of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Comrade Kingsley Uba Orji said the protest does abhor anybody in the Nigerian system, as no one is immune to what is happening.
“Even the security men who put their lives on the line to save the nation, are not well-taken care of.
“All labourers are out today to tell both the Federal and State Governments that enough is enough.
“The wage award is not acceptable. Let them restore the economy to better days or start paying us salaries from N1.2 million and above,” he said.
Addressing the protesters on behalf of the security agencies that came out for the protest, an NSCDC Deputy Commander of Corps, DCC Ya Mohammed assured the protesters that their presence was to secure them while the protest lasted but urged them not to allow the exercise to be hijacked by hoodlums.
