Members of the Bayelsa State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress took to the Streets of Yenagoa to protest over the economic hardship being experienced across the country.
The protesting workers embarked on the peaceful procession along the Lambert Eradiri drive through the Melford Okilo Road, terminating at the Government House at Onopa in Yenagoa to press home their demands.
The protesting workers sang solidarity songs and carried placards with inscriptions such as ” Politicians, let the Poor Breathe”, “End Hunger and Poverty, We Reject IMF Policies”, Stop the High Cost of Living in Nigeria “, “Federal Government Make Our Refineries Work Again” and “Fund Our Public Schools “.
The Chairman of NLC in the state, Mr. Barnabas Simon said the ailing economy occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy and spike in exchange rate of the Naira to the Dollar had made life unbearable for workers and the ordinary citizens.
Mr. Simon noted that the spiralling inflation in basic food, goods and services had made survival a Herculean task for many families.
At the Bayelsa State Government House, Governor Douye Diri commended the protesters for their peaceful conduct during the protest.
He however pleaded with the protesters noting that the President would not deliberately inflict hardship on Nigerians.
Diri who said the economic hardship has no boundaries contended that the rising inflation in Nigeria was due to the monetary policy reforms of the federal government in allowing the floating of the country’s currency.
“The current economic situation has no boundaries. Workers are affected. The federal government and states are also affected. In all our projects, contractors are also asking for cost variation.”
“The currency, as you know, is strictly for the federal government. State governments can only advise because issues concerning the currency are on the Exclusive List and the whole problem revolves around our currency.
“I do believe that the president would not want to punish citizens of this country. I am sure that the federal government is also weighing the options of some of their policies. I believe that our president is a listening leader and he is going to do something.”
“Today our currency has lost one of its basic functions, which is store of value, because on a daily basis, the naira depreciates. I advise the NLC chairman to ask for the restoration of the value of the naira, which is the number one thing. The moment that is done there will be no protest.”
Diri assured the workers that he would make the necessary consultations so as to come up with the reduction in the man hours civil servants spend in a week to ameliorate the current hardship.
