Sowore gave his reactions to Tinubu’s broadcast while speaking at a recent rally of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in a piece, titled, “Understanding the speech of President BAT on “Nigeria’s economic challenges” of 31/7/23.”
Human rights activist and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has faulted the nationwide broadcast of President Bola Tinubu last Monday, noting that the address failed to include ways to uplift the Nigerian masses in the face of the current hardship.
Sowore gave his reactions to Tinubu’s broadcast while speaking at a recent rally of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in a piece, titled, “Understanding the speech of President BAT on “Nigeria’s economic challenges” of 31/7/23.”
The AAC presidential candidate said, “The 12th paragraph of the Presidential Speech sums up the essence of the 44-Paragraph speech. The summary of the Presidential Speech is that for the masses, there is no alternative to suffering, hardship, uncertainty, and hurting tough life.
“It is important to quote the 12th paragraph (of Tinubu’s speech) as follows: “Our economy is going through a tough patch and you are being hurt by it. The cost of fuel has gone up. Food and other prices have followed it. Households and businesses struggle. Things seem anxious and uncertain. I understand the hardship you face. I wish there were other ways. But there is not. If there were, I would have taken that route as I came here to help not hurt the people and nation that I love.”
Commenting on the statement by Tinubu, Sowore continued, “The essence of the Presidential Speech therefore is that the reign of President BAT promises hell on Earth, pains and pangs in the midst of plenty for the masses. The details of the Presidential Speech prove that President BAT actually hates the masses and he is in love with only businesses and business owners.
“No single programme in the Presidential Speech is directed at removing the fuel-hike induced pains of the masses which the Speech was meant to address. The key programmes mentioned in the speech are, as follows: 1. Setting aside of N75bn loan for 75 business enterprises at N1bn each, at very friendly repayment terms. 2. Setting aside of N125bn loan for nano and small and medium scale businesses. 3. N100bn to be devoted to acquisition of buses to be distributed to transportation companies/individuals. 4. Distribution of grains and fertiliser to households for futuristic goals.
“New Minimum wage to be introduced. President BAT claims he does not know of any alternatives to the hardship being experienced by the masses. The alternatives have been provided by organised labour – NLC and TUC, as follows:
“The root cause of the unprecedented pains of the masses is the unjustifiable hike in fuel price. Reverse the fuel price hike by reducing fuel price to the last regulated rate. Refine crude oil in government owned refineries. Without subsidy, experts, including prof Agbon, have pointed out that fuel should sell at no more than N186/litre. No need to import fuel. The President should be courageous enough to take the fight against corruption to the cabal in the oil industry. Punish the cabal not the masses.
“Increase National Minimum Wage to match the rate of inflation. 3. Use the wealth of Nigeria, including the over N1 trillion claimed to have been saved in two months of removal of fuel subsidy, to fund free education as constitutionally provided. Don’t alter the constitution through education loan scam. Cancel all increases in school fees in public institutions which have been imposed pursuant to hike in fuel price and the student loan scam.
“Pay the 8 months’ salaries of workers, academic and non-academic staff in universities, for the period of 2022 strike. The strike was to press for the implementation of collective agreements. In other words, the strike was on a dispute of right. 5. Meet the demands of Resident doctors and other health workers. 6 Payment of unpaid salaries and pensions. There are alternatives to the suffering of the masses. It all depends on the policy options adopted.”
Source: SaharaReporters