NLC leads mass protest as hundreds storm Kano streets

By Maduabuchi Nmeribeh/Kano

Hundreds of protesters stormed the streets of Kano, Wednesday morning, showing their grievances over the state of the nation, occasioned by hike in petroleum pump price, tuition fees, food stuff and other necessary commodities, which have brought hunger and hardship to the masses.

The peaceful protest was led by the leadership of the Kano state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

Workers, traders and artisans joined the protest in their hundreds, as some of the major markets were under lock and key Wednesday morning.

Even as hundreds of Nigerians who joined the peaceful protest marched on the streets, business activities were at their lower ebb, as most residents gathered in numbers, discussing the situation of things and high cost of living standard in the country.

The NLC leaders led the protesters from Kano State Library complex at Ahmadu Bello Way to Government House, Kano, where they were received by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Abdullahi Baffa Bichi.

The protesters called for reversal of the fuel subsidy removal, while drawing the attention of the Federal Government to the hardship and hunger currently ravaging Nigerians.

The SSG commended Kano NLC for conducting the protest in a peaceful manner and promised to convey their message and grievances to the appropriate authorities.

Dr. Bichi said state Governor, Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf, remained labour-friendly and pursues policies that have positive impacts on the lives of the common man.

The chairman of Kano NLC, Comrade Kabiru Inuwa, delivered the protest letter to SSG, Dr. Baffa Bichi.

Inuwa said that: “Nigerians were shocked when the newly sworn in President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Chief Ahmed Bola Tinubu on May 29, 2023, at the Eagle Square, Abuja, announced the removal of subsidy even when subsidy was provided for in the budget till the end of June 2023.

“At that occasion he said ‘Subsidy is gone.’ This was in clear violation of the Appropriation Act and tantamount to a mob action against the Nigerian people.”

Comrade Inuwa further stated that: “There is nowhere in the world where government leaves its citizens totally to the vagaries of the market without some measure of control and protection.

“The federal government should therefore deal decisively with the criminal content of subsidy instead of exposing the ordinary citizens to avoidable pain and hardship.

“As a matter of urgent National importance, it is imperative to fix all our refineries to be able to cater for the domestic fuel consumption.

“The Federal Government should go after parties associated with corruption such as over-invoicing, under delivery of products, over-estimation of national capacity, crude oil swaps, smuggling, and make them to account etc;

“We are concerned that no Government acting reasonably, leaves its national currency to forces of the Market.

“Federal Government’s so-called merger of exchange rates even when it has nothing to export other than crude oil raised our debt stock to N81 trillion from N72 trillion and puts enormous pressure on local manufacturing capacity utilization. It also impacts negatively the cost of locally produced goods and services as a lot of input are imported.

“Finally, to address the raging revenue crisis the government needs to deal decisively with crude oil theft and tax the rich progressively. It is time for the rich to make sacrifices. The poor have done enough; there is nothing more to give;

“So far, Labour has maintained her own side of the bargain, whilst government has shown little or no inclination to implement any of the agreements reached on June 5, 2023.”

According to Comrade Inuwa, the NLC demands include: “Immediate implementation, in good faith, of the resolutions with Congress jointly signed with government and TUC.

“Immediate reversal of all anti-poor policies of government. Including the recent hike in petroleum motor spirit, school fees and VAT. Fix our local refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna.

“Release of eight months withheld salaries of University lecturers and workers.

“Immediate inauguration of the Presidential Steering Committee and Sub-Committees as agreed in previous communications. Put a stop to inhuman actions and policies of government.”