Recall that Nigeria has been facing economic challenges in recent times with many people finding it difficult to meet their basic needs due to the high cost of goods and services.
This led the Nigeria Labour Congress to announce a two-day protest to call attention to the hardship and hunger in the country.
The NLC President, Joe Ajaero, who led a protest to the National Assembly in Abuja on Tuesday handed over a protest letter to the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Labour, Employment, and Productivity, Senator Diket Plang. The demands of the NLC in the letter included the full implementation of welfare provisions, employment generation, immediate subsidies to farmers to boost agricultural production, and the repair of the four refineries, among other requests.
Reacting, a member of CUPP and National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress, Ralph Nwosu, expressed concern over the economic hardship and urged President Tinubu to initiate a national dialogue.
Nwosu, while meeting with other CUPP members in his Abuja office on Tuesday, expressed concern about the state of the country under President Tinubu.
He said ” I know President Tinubu very well. This is the first time one of the people who who championed the efforts to get the military out became the president. And unfortunately, this is the time that the democratic system has taken the biggest nosedive.
“In our consultation and conversations, we are working towards rebuilding this system. While we are doing this, I wish to call on President, Bola Tinubu to consider the need for a national conversation and such conversation will bring all stakeholders to the table.”
He continued “The problem is that most people there today see government offices as business and with that mentality, they can not go too far.
“With the current situation in the country, it is time to initiate a national conversation, involving all political parties and stakeholders to provide solutions to our challenges. This national conversation is not just for elected officials because they have failed.
“Elected officials should possibly constitute only 10% of the participants, while other stakeholders such as political parties and civil societies, as well as the ordinary people, should dominate the numbers in the national conversation.
“It is scandalous that many Nigerians cannot afford food. Times are tough, and Nigerians are suffering. Therefore, I urge this government to convene a national conversation. Bring together all parties and critical stakeholders for extensive deliberations so that we can collectively find a solution because the current situation is very alarming. The last national conference was held many years ago, and when that conference took place, the situation was better. Where we are now, the situation is tragic.”
Earlier, in his remarks, CUPP National Secretary, Peter Ameh, alleged that the elected leaders of Nigeria have not acted in the best interest of the citizens.
He explained, “It has been a very difficult road for Nigeria, especially because those who have been elected have not acted in the best interest of Nigeria. They have acted for selfish reasons.
“And they have ultimately pushed our people into abject poverty. The multidimensional poverty that exists in this country today is disheartening when you juxtapose it with the kind of resources that have been given. Nigeria has no reason to be in this kind of condition.
“Unfortunately, the common man cannot have one meal a day, and yet the number of out-of-school children keeps increasing. Insecurity is another issue; most Nigerians are no longer safe.
“The primary purpose of governance is the protection of life and property. Without addressing these issues urgently, we will continue to struggle with problems.”
