May Day: Life Has Become Nightmarish for Us, Katsina Workers Moan

From Agaju Madugba, Katsina

Organised Labour in Katsina State joined their counterparts nationwide in marking the 2024 May Day celebrations, highlighting the severe hardships faced by Nigerian workers and citizens.

Speaking at a rally at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium, Katsina State NLC Chairman Comrade Hussaini Hamisu Yanduna painted a grim picture of the current situation.

“Life has become miserable, salary is insufficient for workers to accommodate needs of their families,” Yanduna lamented. “Movement has become difficult, people are suffering and dying, and the prices of essential goods like petrol are skyrocketing, making life even more challenging.”

He cited the unreliable price of petrol, which is now sold at N950 to N1,000 per litre in most filling stations, as a major contributor to the economic hardship.

“Today, workers and the people face serious economic hardship, especially the poor and vulnerable groups,” Yanduna said. “The most disheartening thing here in our state is that the fuel stations are deliberately locked to worsen the situation.”

He called on the government to re-introduce the defunct cooperative consumer shops to address the high cost of food items, which he attributed to the removal of fuel subsidies.

Yanduna emphasised the need for collaboration between the government, corporate organisations, workers, and civil society organisations to combat poverty, corruption, and insecurity, which are major contributors to the country’s instability and unemployment.

In his address at the rally, Governor Umaru Dikko Radda acknowledged the challenges faced by workers and citizens and assured them of his administration’s commitment to improving their lives.

“We are diligently working on ongoing labour reforms that prioritise workers’ safety and wellbeing, particularly as our climate evolves,” Radda said. “We share your concerns about food insecurity and the broader security challenges we face.”

He highlighted his administration’s efforts to address food insecurity through the food task force and other agricultural programs. He also acknowledged the security challenges and assured the workers of his administration’s relentless pursuit of the perpetrators of these acts to ensure their safety.