Kogi workers lament high rate of poverty in state, join NLC strike

Workers in Kogi State, on Monday, joined their counterparts to comply fully with the Organized Labour’s directive to embark on a nationwide strike over the new national minimum wage.

Newspot correspondent who monitored the level of compliance in Kogi State observed that the monitoring team of both, the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and the Trade Union Congress, TUC were all out to enforce compliance of banks, petroleum stations, government ministries and parastatals within the State capital, Lokoja.

Roads were partially deserted in Lokoja as leaders of the Tricycle Owners Association of Nigeria, TOAN, and Motorcycle Organisation Association of Nigeria, MOAN, instructed members in the early hours of the day not to work in solidarity with the nationwide strike.

At the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, the Chief Medical Director, Doctor Olatunde Alabi appealed to members of the enforcing team to give the health Institution time to wind down in view of the critical situation of some patients.

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Some managers of filling stations who spoke to Newspot under the condition of anonymity, expressed support for the action of Organized Labour, noting that the suffering of many Nigerians has been taken to another level by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led federal government.

Some civil servants who did not want their names in print registered their disappointment at the actions of the federal and state governments for not agreeing on a living wage with Organized Labour.

“This Government of Ahmed Bola Tinubu has succeeded in impoverishing many Nigerians for no reason. We thought electing the former Lagos State Governor would bring fresh air for Nigerians after the Buhari government took us 10 steps backwards.

”Many families today in Nigeria can hardly survive on three square meals due to the high cost of living.

” If the government thinks the current minimum wage is sufficient for Nigerian workers given the current economic reality, let the President, Senators, House of Representatives members and other lawmakers receive the same wage as Nigerian Workers. Let us see if they will survive it. What we can see here is pure wickedness from our elected representatives who keep governing us for their selfish interest” they lamented.

Speaking to journalists on the ongoing strike, the Chairman of the enforcement team who also doubles as the Deputy State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, in Kogi, Opaluwa Eleojo said the actions of Labour will be sustained until the government bows to the clarion call of Nigerians who are suffering and dying of hunger.