Governor Makinde Urges Nigerians to Endure Hardship, Promises Relief Measures

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has appealed to Nigerians to endure the current economic hardship, assuring them that it will soon come to an end. His plea came during his address to Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) leaders and other protesters at the Total Garden Roundabout in Ibadan on Tuesday.

The two-day peaceful protest, organized by the NLC, was aimed at highlighting the challenges faced by Nigerians due to the current economic situation. Initially, the NLC leadership prevented the governor from addressing the protesters, accusing him of being part of the nation’s leadership responsible for the hardship.

Governor Makinde, however, urged the labour leaders to direct their demands to his government, highlighting areas where they seek assistance in alleviating the suffering of the masses. He mentioned that his administration has been meeting its obligations to state civil servants and pensioners by implementing the N25,000 and N15,000 wage awards, respectively, since October.

The governor assured the people that his government is committed to implementing programs that will help mitigate the effects of the fuel subsidy removal. He also appealed to the NLC to ensure that the protest remains peaceful.

Meanwhile, in Ogun State, protesters gathered at the NLC Secretariat in Abeokuta and marched through various parts of the city, carrying placards with messages such as ‘Let the poor breathe’ and ‘End hunger and poverty.’ Hammed Ademola-Benco, the Ogun NLC chairman, emphasized that the protest aims to secure better deals for Nigerians and not to confront the government.

Ademola-Benco highlighted the psychological impact of the current economic challenges on the people and described the protest as successful, with the leadership of the 40 union affiliates in the state actively participating.

Peoples Gazette