National Telescope national telescope newspaper
By Bose Adelakun
The Nigeria Labour Congress has insisted there is no going back on its planned action despite the approval of N500bn palliatives and release of 3000 buses by President Bola Tinubu-led administration.
The president at the national broadcast on Monday said he had approved N500bn palliative for manufacturers, small businesses and farmers. He also released plans to increase salaries and acquire 3,000 mass transit buses.
However, the NLC president, Joe Ajaero, while addressing Journalists after a meeting with the Federal Government representative, said the move by the President will not stop the protest. said the rally would hold in line with its schedule.
Although the meeting was inconclusive and expected to resume today (Tuesday), the NLC president said the rally scheduled for Wednesday will still hold.
“By the time you have a single market (exchange rate) and you are not having anything that has a comparative advantage, your energy is import driven, then how are you going to control it?
“How are you going to control somebody that exchanged dollar at about N900? Are you going to tell him to sell below the price?
“How are you going to tell even the Discos not to increase their tariff with the high cost of production today? Even corn in the villages that was sold at N18,000 in February; now it’s about 56,000. How are you going to control it?”
Speaking on the protest, he said, “We just adjourned to go and listen to Mr. President’s speech and to continue with our conversation tomorrow (Tuesday). Our peaceful rally will go on as scheduled…this rally has been fixed.”
