Bala Mohammed, governor of Bauchi State, has urged labour unions to convince the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration that cutting gasoline subsidies was for the greater welfare of the country.
The governor’s request comes after organised labour in the state joined a protest on Wednesday in solidarity with the national leadership to bring attention to the federal government’s alleged imposition of economic hardship and a high cost of living on citizens as a result of the removal of a petroleum subsidy.
According to Infostride News, people were seen all over the city’s highways carrying signs with messages from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).
Despite the hardships it has created, Gov. Mohammed has asked labour unions to back the FG’s decision.
On Wednesday, he pleaded with the crowd gathered in the state’s multi-purpose indoor hall for the inauguration of the caretaker chairman of the state’s twenty local government districts.
The withdrawal of subsidies has created “tough times,” he said. It’s causing a lot of hardship for Nigerians, no doubt, but we want our labour unions to see the big picture and know that this is for the better.
We agree with the federal government’s plan to eliminate the subsidy because we think it’s wasteful and isn’t helping the average person.
The governor announced actions made by his government to ease the hardships endured by the populace as a result of the subsidy cut.
We have implemented a transportation subsidy, purchased fertiliser, and have fertiliser. We’re going to take advantage of the federal government’s plan to bring in grain and fertiliser on loan to everyone, even government workers. You can rest convinced that when they are brought to Bauchi, they will be distributed fairly and justly.
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