By Suzan Edeh, Bauchi
The Nigeria Labour Congress( NLC) Bauchi Chapter have called on governments at all levels to stand up to it responsibility and protect the lives and properties of it’s innocent citizens.
The Chairperson, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Bauchi State Council,Comrade Dauda M. Shuaibu stated this while delivering an address on the occasion of the 2025 international workers day with theme: “RECLAIMING THE CIVIC SPACE IN THE MIDST OF ECONOMIC HARDSHIP” jointly organised by Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) & Trade Union Congress (TUC) Bauchi State Council, held at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Township Stadium Bauchi.
According to him, the President and Commander in Chief of the Federation, had on assumption of office in May 2023, promised to sustain and improve on the issue of security and welfare, but recent development points to a dangerous trend in terms of security for the citizens and the nation.
Comrade Dauda Shuaibu said that the recent brutal attacks and killing of poor Nigerians in some communities in the States of North East, North Central and North West is a clear signal that, all is not well with our security.
Concerning the State of the Nation, the NLC State Chairpers noted that this year’s May Day is being celebrated at a difficult period when the nation’s economy was still very unfavourable to the working class and entire citizens as well, adding that the introduction of harsh economic policies and removal of subsidies on fuel, fertilizer and farm inputs, increase in electricity tariff, as well as floating of the Naira has continue to be unfavourable to us all.
“The Presidency has recently declared that Government will spend the total sum of Ten Billion Naira to provide solar power to the Aso Villa where the Nation’s President resides. This is to tell you that Government could no longer provide electricity to the Nation. It is therefore a wake-up call to keep the Government on its toes to fulfil the promises they made during their campaigns”
“Fellow Comrades, Federal Government has also continued to borrow monies from the World Bank and other creditors around the globe in the name of improving the economy, from 2023 to date when the present administration took over, there is nothing to show to justify the huge debt being accrued to our great grand children “
” From the assessment of the Nation’s economy we reported last year to-date, there is no significant progress achieved so far. The cost of living has continued to skyrocket unabated in the country. We are calling on the citizens to “reclaim the civic space in the midst of this economic hardship”.
“It is evidently clear that the North East region is schemed out from the Federal Government policy of providing CNG Buses and CNG stations across the States and geo-political zones, as there is none provided for the region. We are aware that, one State alone, in the South-West, has been provided with nearly sixty-two (62) CNG stations.We are calling on the Federal Govt in the spirit of fairness and equity to urgently consider the North-East region in the provision of CNG buses and Stations to ease the huge cost of transport and logistics among our people” he said
Comrade Dauda Shuaibu commended Governor Bala Mohammed for implementation the new national minimum wage for all workers across the State and Local Government service, saying that the development has
brought succour and relief to many workers and their families.
“We appreciate the recent approval of His Excellency for the recruitment of ten thousand workers into the State civil service, this is in addition to the previous approval of three thousand teachers to replace those that retired to improve our education sector.
“As Government is making concerted efforts to implement the new contributory pension scheme (CPS) in the State, the organised labour viewed this as a welcome development and called on the administration of His Excellency to fast-track the process along with the Stakeholders to ensure a hitch-free take off and success of the programme” he said