Kwara NLC joins nationwide protest, demands rehabilitation of refineries

By Mosunmola Ayobami, Ilorin
Members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Kwara State on Wednesday demanded the immediate implementation of palliative measures agreed with the federal government.
The union also called for the rehabilitation of the nation’s refineries to stop fuel importation.
They made the demands during a protest march in line with the call by the national body.
The protest took off at the Labour House, located along state High Court Road to the Government House, Ilorin.
Speaking with Westernpost shortly after the peaceful protest, the state chairman of NLC, Muritala Olayinka, said the protest was to awaken the government to their promises.
According to him, the demands are for the government to make a quick intervention on the promised palliative, rehabilitate the refineries, and for them to come up with living wages to ameliorate the suffering of the income earners.
He said: “The protest was about foot dragging of the government to do the right thing at the right time. You are aware of the fuel subsidy removal, which is a welcome development. So, the federal government set up a committee, which has to do with how they can cushion the effects of the policy, but since the committee was set up, there have been some delay.
“There have been series of tactics to delay the progress of the committee. Several complaints have been coming from the side of the labour. So, we felt the need to make the government know that the country belongs to all of us. The needful has to be done on time; that was what we demonstrated to show our grievances.”
He urged the NLC members in the state to endure a little more, adding that the hard times would soon come to an end.