President Bola Tinubu promised to tackle the unprecedented poverty and hardship but workers, while x-raying his one year in office, said the burden of pains has increased under the President, GLORIA NWAFOR writes.

No doubt President Bola Tinubu’s first year in office has been marked by significant economic challenges and controversial policy decisions. One of the most impactful actions taken by his administration was the removal of the fuel subsidy, right on the inauguration parade ground.

While intended to alleviate fiscal burdens, the move has led to widespread hardship, with the cost of goods and services soaring and inflation reaching double digits.

The sudden increase in fuel prices has rippled through the economy, exacerbating the cost of living for everyday Nigerians. Despite the hardships, the Tinubu-led administration has continued to urge the nation and citizens to remain hopeful, adhering to its ‘Renewed Hope’ mantra, noting that the measures were necessary for long-term economic stability and growth.

However, workers said the immediate impact on the populace has been harsh, even as many Nigerians are expressing deep dissatisfaction and concern for their economic future.

In addition to the subsidy removal, they stressed that Tinubu’s decision to float the naira has further destabilised the economy. According to them, the naira has weakened considerably against the dollar, a development with severe consequences for an import-dependent country like Nigeria.

Specifically, they said as the naira’s value plummets, the cost of imported goods rises, further straining the pockets of Nigerians and contributing to inflationary pressures.

President of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), Festus Osifo, said it has been one year of difficulty and painful economic challenges. He said Nigerian workers had been improvised and plunged deeper into multidimensional poverty.

He noted that it has not been a good period for Nigerian workers. He called on the administration to urgently address the crisis and give Nigerians a sense of belonging.

Secretary to the TUC Lagos State Council, Abiodun Aladetan, said the hike in electricity tariffs has further compounded the difficulties, adding to the financial burdens faced by households and businesses alike. He lamented that higher electricity costs have also increased the cost of production for many industries, leading to higher prices for consumers and squeezing profit margins for businesses.

While wishing the government success in its efforts to stabilise and grow the economy, Aladetan said there is a strong call for greater sincerity and transparency from the current administration.

According to him, Nigerians are eager for tangible improvements and a clearer demonstration of how these tough economic policies will lead to a better future.

“The hope is for a swift and effective recovery that alleviates the current economic distress and restores confidence among the citizens,” he said. A lawyer and labour activist, Femi Aborisade alleged that the reign of Tinubu has been a disaster and tragedy for the masses of Nigeria. He expressed that the unprecedented agony, pains and pangs of the masses of Nigeria commenced from the day he was sworn in on May 29, 2023.

According to him, since that day, life for the masses has taken an unprecedented downward turn for the worse.

“From the standpoint of the life of the masses, this is the worst regime in the entire history of Nigeria. While the masses wallow in unprecedented poverty, members of the ruling class swim in unprecedented opulence. The living standards have been devalued just as the national currency has been devalued at an unprecedented degree. President Tinubu promised renewed hope, but he has delivered renewed hardship,” he said.

Stating that the regime was self-serving, Aborisade said it was not concerned with the life of the masses even as excruciating poverty has heralded unprecedented insecurity.

“The Minimum Wage Act has expired after five years and the regime is not interested in reviewing the minimum wage to match the rate of inflation. School fees have increased beyond what the majority of students from ordinary normal working-class people can afford.

“The healthcare system has collapsed as the President has continued medical tourism. Spending on frivolities such as accumulation of vehicles for the unelected office of the first lady and attendance of avoidable international meetings with family members, rather than improvement in the well-being of the masses have defined this regime,” he said.

Assistant General Secretary, NLC, Chris Onyeka said it has been one year of disaster on crisis of living and survival for Nigerian workers. He said since the pronouncement of ‘subsidy is gone’ by Tinubu on his inauguration into office, “Our hopes, peace, survival and comfort have gone and our lives have been shattered. Since then, it has been from one woe to another. We have not experienced any better day since then.

“It is a year like no other year, a year of suffering. This government has refused to dialogue to form constant conversation with workers on issues that bother on the terms and conditions of employment of Nigerian workers,” he said. He further said the government has not encouraged dialogue as promised and has refused to comply with its promise.

According to him, it has been a year of broken promises and hopelessness, adding that the use of propaganda and instruments of violence was the order of the day.

“It is a year that the industrial relations practice and tradition have suffered. Industrial relations laws have been broken at will by governments at the federal and state levels. They have become instruments to break the laws that they made. They have resorted more to impunity and things that are beyond our practice as industrial relations social

“The Minimum Wage Act of 2019 states that you set up the tripartite minimum wage committee six months before the expiration of the current one but this government bridged that law with impunity and since negotiation commenced they have not shown responsibility to the fact that they did not start on time that there was a need for expedited action, rather they have tried to negotiate the minimum wage negotiation to death by not being more faithful,” he said.