Nationwide Protest by NLC: Hunger, Not Minimum Wage, at the Heart of Demonstrations

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has clarified the reasons behind their ongoing two-day nationwide protest.

Contrary to the claims made by the Presidency that the protest is about the minimum wage review, NLC President Joe Ajaero has stated that the demonstrations are primarily driven by the widespread hunger and economic hardship faced by the Nigerian people.

Addressing the media in Abuja, Ajaero emphasized that the protest goes beyond the minimum wage issue and is more about the basic needs of the people, such as food, transportation, accommodation, and healthcare.

He pointed out that the current minimum wage, even if adjusted, would not be enough to address these fundamental concerns.

Ajaero cited the UN’s recommendation that the poorest people should be fed on $2 per day, which translates to around N700,000 per month for a family of six.

This amount, he argued, is significantly higher than any proposed minimum wage and would still not cover essential expenses like transportation and medical care.

The NLC President also highlighted the impact of deregulation on the economy, particularly the increase in fuel prices, which has made it even harder for people to make ends meet.

The NLC had previously proposed alternative solutions such as the introduction of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses to mitigate the transportation costs, but no significant progress has been made in this regard.

As the nationwide protest continues, it remains to be seen how the government will respond to the NLC’s demands and address the pressing issue of hunger and economic hardship faced by the Nigerian people.