NLC Warns of Further Protests if Food Scarcity, Hunger Persist

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has said that the federal government may not be able to quench the orgy of protests and looting of food trucks and warehouses across the country, unless something was done to arrest the worsening socioeconomic situation confronting the masses.
In the same vein, the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), said that the health sector has been hard-hit by pressures from the current harsh economic situation in the country.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 11 Quadrennial National Delegates Conference of Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) in Abuja yesterday, NLC President, Joe Ajaero, lamented that the government’s harsh economic policies have impoverished the people and stripped them of those values that make them human beings.

He said: “Our people have been reduced to beggars with an ever-increasing number relying on waste dumps for their daily meals. Food has become so scarce that Nigerians have become scavengers and resort to raiding food trucks and warehouses for food.
“If those in government cannot see the danger in what is happening, we see it and must ensure that government fulfills its duties to the people. We are increasingly going hungry in our father’s land and cannot continue in this destitution.

“The greatest unifier and mobiliser of a people is hunger so it insults common sense when those in government assume that somebody is sponsoring people who are protesting because of hunger. If anybody is arousing the people, it is those in government whose policies have impoverished the people and stripped them of those values that make them human beings.
“The looting of food trucks and warehouse is what you get when this happens. Unless something is done, this may unfortunately escalate. We pray it does not.Those who therefore think that they can stop us from this divine mission with their threats and violence should think twice. We cannot be cowed. We cannot surrender our natural mandate to powers and agents of poverty and emasculation.

“We are not after anybody’s job but we must insist that the instruments of governance must be used for the greater good of the people and not to wreck their lives. We must insist that any political calculation that does not put the lives of Nigerians first fails abysmally and is totally unacceptable.
“The people of Nigeria must have to survive first so that Nigeria can survive before we begin to talk about 2027.We must all work together to build power with which we can use for successful engagement with those who are in charge of the various corridors of power in our dear nation. Nigerians look up to us and we must not fail them.”

While welcoming delegates to their conference, National President of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), Dr. Kabiru Ado Sani Minjibir, bemoaned the negative impact the bad economic situation was having on the health sector.
He said that the inflation has not only greatly affected the purchasing power of workers but also caused a significant depreciation of the health sector budget.
“Workers in health institutions in Nigeria are worst hit as our economy degenerates. It is the same economically traumatised health workers who daily manage frustrations of their fellow impoverished citizens unable to afford medical care who still have to deal with a huge deluge of mental strain.”

Minjibir regretted that many of the workers who are unable to stand the heat have had to “Jappa” – (exit the country for greener pastures).
In his remarks, the Director of Trade Union Services, Alhaji Yusuf Mohammed who represented the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Hon Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, at the event said that federal government was aware of the poor state of healthcare facilities in the country and is working hard to address them.
He said that apart from massive re-equipment of hospitals and health Institutions, the present administration is addressing the issue of capacity building and adequate remuneration for health workers.

Immediate past president of the NLC, Ayuba Wabba, in his message to the delegates, charged them to unite and support the fight for welfare and better living standards of workers and Nigerian masses.