Workers in Enugu state, Wednesday, joined the nationwide protest embarked upon by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) against the removal of fuel subsidy and the economic hardship being inflicted upon Nigerians.
The NLC members, associate unions and civil society groups, who gathered at the New Market office of the Enugu NLC where the protest took off at 9.50 am on Wednesday, marched through the New Market Roundabout to the state secretariat, through Okpara Avenue to the Enugu state Government House.
Addressing the workers, Enugu state chairman of the NLC, Fabian Nwigbo said the Bola Tinubu-led administration ambushed Nigerians on its first day in office with the removal of fuel subsidy which has more than doubled the sufferings of the people.
He noted that, while the price of petroleum products and other commodities in the market have gone up as a result of the subsidy removal, salaries of workers have not increased.
“The anti human policies of the government continue to affect our people, some of them are dying as a result,” he said. “We are tired of what is happening, the N30, 000 minimum wage cannot even fill a motor tank and that is what some of us are earning and using to feed our families,” he added.
On his part, chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in the state, Ben Asogwa said the labour unions had kicked against the idea of subsidy removal when it was contemplated.
“When the government insisted, we asked that they make our refineries work again and convert our vehicles to gas-powered to make it cheaper for us as well as increase our minimum wage but none of that was done and now, some of us that have cars have dumped them because we can’t even afford to fuel them again.”
Speaking further, he said: “We want the governor to take our message to the president and tell him that we are not happy with the sufferings we are good through.”
In his reaction, deputy governor of the state, Ossai who addressed the workers on behalf of Governor Peter Mbah, thanked the workers for conducting themselves peacefully during the protest.
He said that the governor had already set up a committee that will look into the provision of subsidies as part of efforts to help cushion the effects of the subsidy removal.
“Mbah has also sustained the delivery of petroleum products at a reduced cost to make it easier for the people,” he said, adding that the worker’s decision to protest following the removal was in the right direction.
