South West workers, CSOs slam Tinubu’s failure to adopt lean government while asking citizens to tighten their belts
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Workers in South West states – Ondo, Ekiti, Oyo, and Osun – and civil society organisations (CSOs) have joined other agitators nationwide to lament the huge cost of governance and asked Bola Tinubu to set a good example of reducing the cost.
The President plans a cabinet staff list of nearly 70, comprising Ministers, Advisers, and Assistants.
He has already got Senate approval to appoint 20 Senior Special Assistants (SSAs), Special Assistants (SAs), and Personal Assistants (PAs), and has sent to the Chamber for approval an unprecedented list of 47 nominees for Ministerial jobs.
Those who protested in Akure under the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) argued if the money spent on running the government is reduced, it will help cushion the severe impact of fuel subsidy removal.
Ondo NLC Chairman Victor Amoko described subsidy removal as a smart move but it has led to profound hardship because there was no prior plan for palliatives, and a heavy burden is now placed on every household across the country.
He reiterated the increase in fuel price has triggered astronomical hikes in the cost of transportation, food, goods, services, school fees, and healthcare.
Ondo TUC Chairman Clement Fatuase vowed the “inhuman policies” introduced by the Tinubu administration will not be tolerated.
He urged the government to implement agreements reached with organised labour to avoid further crippling of the economy.
Ondo Governor Union Matters Adviser Dare Aragbaiye gave an assurance the workers’ demands will be conveyed to Tinubu.
Ekiti
Both Ekiti NLC Chairman Kolapo Olatunde and TUC Chairman Sola Adigun urged Tinubu to reverse subsidy removal, fix the refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna, and stop anti-people policies.
Protesters demanded at Government House the payment of withheld salaries of university lecturers and workers in their message to Governor Biodun Oyebanji, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Abibat Adubiaro, and Head of Service Bamidele Agbede.
Oyebanji promised to deliver their demands to Tinubu.
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Oyo
Protesting workers in Oyo urged Abuja to address anti-human policies and economic hardship plaguing the country, according to reporting by The Guardian.
State NLC Chairman Kayode Martins and TUC Chairman Bosun Olabiyi both said the policies of the government are strangling the people and driving them to the brink.
Former Communications Minister Bayo Shittu counselled the workers to give the federal government more time to tackle the issues on the ground.
And New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP) South West leader Bisi Olopoeyan insisted it is imperative for Tinubu to find a solution to the agony cause by fuel subsidy removal.
Osun
NLC and TUC members held separate protests in Osogbo against the fall out of the removal of fuel subsidy.
Loyalists of Osun NLC caretaker chairman assembled at Freedom Park Osogbo and TUC members, led by Adebowale Adekola, gathered at the Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding in Osogbo.
Members of the Osun Civil Societies Coalition, joined by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), held their own marches through major streets of the state capital.
“Everyone must come out to stop the move to further impoverish Nigerians,” said Osun CSOs Chairman Waheed Lawal, who spoke after joining the NLC group at Freedom Park.
NUEE Vice President Sodiq Adewale lamented that “subsidy removal has brought untold hardship on Nigerians. The policies of this government are anti-masses; they are nothing to write home about.
“Irrespective of the crisis in labour in Osun State, we have to mobilise and come to show that we are tired of this hardship in this country.”