The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) on Thursday warned President Muhammadu Buhari and politicians in Nigeria to desist from pushing the country into anarchy.
President of the Congress, Comrade Festus Osifo, while speaking with Journalists in Abuja said Nigerian workers cannot fold her hands and watch the country destroyed by those who don’t mean well for the country.
Comrade Osifo lamented that Nigeria has never had it so bad, where the populace attack banks, strip in banking halls or threaten to commit suicide because they cant access their money.
According to him, “The Nigerian populace is unable to pay for basic needs including food, medicines, clothes or transportation.
“Nigerian workers and indeed mases cannot be used as pons in the hands of politicians.
“We do not only hold those in political office responsible for this clear decline into anarchism, but also the politicians who rather than come up with concrete suggestions or try to find a solution, have turned this tragedy into a circus show in which brick bats are thrown, conspiracy theories woven, and accusations made while the people are meant to suffer.
“Nigerians as human beings are angry; justifiably so and have shown their anger in several ways including through protests. Tragically, rather than address the issues or try to assuage their anger, the security services under the Presidency is shooting live bullets at defenseless Nigerians.
“The TUC demands that President Muhammadu Buhari and his government put an immediate stop to these shootings and bring the culprits to book.
“Indeed, what can be more criminal than depriving the citizenry of access to their hard earned money thereby starving them and their families, and then turning round to unleash armed security forces on them?
“The Presidency and political class must realize that they are pushing the country down the steep slope of anarchism.
“Unless they reverse this, they must know that all our collective efforts to build a viable and democratic system would be lost; we are very close to the precipice and must act carefully.
“The Nigerian people unlike the politicians and the wealthy class have nowhere to run to, have no monies stacked abroad and have no option than to remain in the country; their interest must be priority one.
“Therefore, the TUC, the Labour Movement, professional associations, market associations and social movements have no choice but to defend the populace and prevent any tragic situation or scenario”.
On the fuel scarcity, the labour leader said, “The answer to the fuel shortage question, is the local refining of our petroleum product needs. Local refining would add value to our crude oil, provide local jobs, and not only save us foreign exchange, but would enable us earn far more income.
“Despite these past weeks of uncertainty, there is no clear solution in sight as the State and Federal Governments are neither on the same page nor have they charted any clear path to resolve this visibly self-induced crises.
“If anything, they and their fellow politicians are engaged in legal somersaults in the Courts which have merely worsen matters and further confused the populace. Yet, it is a nightmare that we cannot allow to continue.”
