Some Nigerian workers have demanded for an improved welfare package to meet increasing inflation rate in the country.
The workers, mostly teachers that gathered at the Ojo Local Government headquarters, said the rising inflation bore negatively on their purchasing power.
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) disclosed that Nigeria’s inflation rate rises to 22.04 per cent at the end of March, the third consecutive increase in 2023.
The consumer price index (CPI), which measures the rate of change in prices of goods and services, rose to 22.04 per cent in March.
Speaking, a spokesman for the workers, Mr Simbo Adekunle, a teacher at Aworri College, said that the rising cost of items in the market had made living hellish for workers.
Adekunle, while decrying the weak status of the Naira, urged the government to strengthen the nation’s legal tender to stabilise people’s living standard.
He said that the subsisting inflation in the country had continued to make nonsense of workers pay package thereby subjecting them to a life of misery and despondency.
“An improved welfare package for the Nigerian workers has become imperative to enable them meet up social needs,” he said.
Also speaking on workers welfare, Mrs Munirat Coker, a labour technocrat, said part of the agenda of 2023 Workers Day at state level would be to explore avenues to curb effects of inflation on workers.
Coker, also an official of Nigerian Union of Local Government Employee (NULGE) Ojo Chapter, said apart from monthly pay increase, the union would proffer other solutions such as housing and price control, to amelorate the situation.
Workers in Nigeria on Monday, joined their counterparts globally to celebrate the 2023 workers day.
It reports that the Federal Government declared Monday, a public holiday to enable workers celebrate the day and proffer solution to their pressing needs.
It reports also that workers in Lagos gathered at the Onikan Stadium to celebrate the Day.
In commemoration of the 2023 workers day, the Medical Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) Branch, has called for amicable resolve of their union internal dispute.
Comrade Jerry Chagga, Secretary Medical MHWUN Kaduna Unit of NAFDAC Branch, made the call at a sideline of the years’ workers day celebration at the famous Ahmadu Bello Stadium on Monday in Kaduna.
He expressed disappointment on the stands of some of their colleagues in Lagos Branch of the union, while lamenting the issues that has been bedeviling the MHWUN NAFDAC branch.
Chagga explained that the Minister of Health had intercepted the problems bedeviling the union, adding that he had done alot to solve the problems.
He however, allegedly, said in that light, their colleagues in Lagos Branch, amidst the Minister’s resolve of the union’s crisis, conducted elections which was purportedly to be held on April 27.
“When the Federal Ministry of Labour heard about it, they wrote to the National, suspending the elections untill all internal dispute in MHWUN NAFDAC is resolved.
“To our disappointment, our colleagues in Lagos went ahead to conduct the election with the supervision of even some of the officials of the national branch of MHWUN,” he alleged.
Chagga further expressed displeasure, describing the scenario as disappointing and contemptuous to the Minister of Labour and Employment, who according to him was doing his best to ensure peace, tranquility and understanding in NAFDAC branch.
The Secretary called on their colleagues to desist from parading themselves as the branch’s executives of NAFDAC branch of MHWUN.
He noted that there is a caretaker committee that was duelly formed, having its Secretariat in Abuja, adding that is was what their constitution stipulates.
He assured that the committee was working tirelessly to ensure that all issues that puts them apart were reconciled.
Members of MHWUN in a group photograph with NLC Chairman, Kaduna State Council, Comrade Ayuba Sulaiman (Middle), who is also the Chairman of MHWUN, Kaduna State Council.
Earlier, Comrade Ahmed Sulieman, the Chairman of MHWUN Kaduna Unit of NAFDAC Branch, noted that the workers day celebration was to commemorate the struggle of workers welfare.
He also noted that welfare was sacrosanct to all NAFDAC staff, while calling on their members all across to respect the decision of the caretaker committee formed to reconcile problems within the union.
Also speaking earlier, the Chairman of Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Kaduna State Council, Comrade Ayuba Sulaiman, said the day was set aside to celebrate workers achievements, struggles, and even challenges.
Sulaiman, who doubles as the Chairman of MHWUN, Kaduna State Council, advocated for workers rights all over the state, adding that it would ensure socio-economic justice which was in tally with the theme of the years’ celebration.
He urged workers to be diligent, dedicated and responsible by keeping to time of work and not closing before time.
He expressed optimism to the incoming Government of Kaduna State, while assuring workers of conducive and favourable working condition in Kaduna State.
MHWUN, received an award for the most neatly dressed and populated members of Labour in the state, at the colourful event which featured match past, among other displays by various labour and trade union groups.
