By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Nigerians have been advised not to put their trust in the labour unions, which plan to commence a mass protest on Wednesday against the rising cost of goods and services in the country.
In a statement, a group known as the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) urged citizens to rather take their destiny into their hands so as not to be disappointed.
“It is unfortunate, but true, that the labour movement in Nigeria has consistently failed to defend the masses who constitute the majority among their membership.
“Nigerians in the past have had their hopes dashed each time the labour unions led negotiations with the government on their behalf on any issues bordering on their well-being or pains.
“The CNPP believes that only the Nigerian masses who bear the brunt of economic hardships, as well as the increasing pains of long the long years of bad leadership, can decide their faith by taking their destiny into their hands,” the umbrella association of all the registered political parties and political associations in the country said.
In the statement signed by its Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Mr James Ezema, the group further said, “Like they have done each time they claimed to stand up for the masses, the labour unions will certainly betray the trust of the working class.”
On Monday night, President Bola Tinubu rolled out some palliatives designed by his administration to cushion the effect of the removal of fuel subsidy two months ago.
He announced the provision of N75 billion 9 per cent interest loan with five years maturity to the manufacturing sector and the release of 200,000 tonnes of grains to households.
“Our administration recognises the importance of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and the informal sector as drivers of growth. We are going to energise this very important sector with N125 billion.
“Out of the sum, we will spend N50 billion on Conditional Grants to 1 million nano businesses between now and March 2024. Our target is to give N50,000 each to 1,300 nano business owners in each of the 774 local governments across the country.
“Ultimately, this programme will further drive financial inclusion by onboarding beneficiaries into the formal banking system. In like manner, we will fund 100,000 MSMEs and start-ups with N75 billion. “Under this scheme, each enterprise promoter will be able to get between N500,000 to N1 million at 9% interest per annum and a repayment period of 36 months,” Mr Tinubu said in his nationwide broadcast last night.
However, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) insisted that they were going on with the protest despite the President’s assurance that “your salary review is coming,” as he said he was “working in collaboration with the labour unions to introduce a new national minimum wage for workers.”
Aduragbemi Omiyale 
Business Post Contributor