By Editor 
The Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Oyo State, Comrade Kayode Martins, speaks in an interview on some issues affecting the polity in Nigeria and in his home state, Oyo.
What do you make of the state of the nation, especially as it has to do with fuel subsidy removal by the Federal Government and the consequent worsening economic hardship in the land?
Nobody is against subsidy removal from petrol, but the mode by which the Federal Government had it removed has created a lot of arguments and misconceptions and has inflicted the masses with a lot of problems, and workers are not left off the hook as well. Efforts have been made thereafter to cushion the effects, but the efforts have not yielded the expected results in the sense that the hardship is too much, especially on the masses. The burden lies so much on the masses. Cost of living has really gone up. To put something in the mouth is now very difficult for the common man, and we are not even talking of three square meals.
The Federal Government signed an agreement with the labour leaders and compelled state governments to replicate the agreement. Immediately subsidy was removed from PMS, many states started taking steps to alleviate the sufferings of workers and the masses. We have some states telling civil servants to come to work thrice in a week. Some gave N10,000 monthly palliative and the likes.
The Oyo State government, particularly the governor, in his magnanimous intent, called us on May 29 and said this (subsidy removal) was being done and it was going to affect the masses. He said we should come together and see what we could do to alleviate the sufferings. A committee was promptly set up headed by the Head of Service. Another committee was set up a couple of weeks ago. But by and large, since May 29, nothing really has been done. The attitude of the people from the government’s side in the committee is giving us the impression that maybe they are taking us for granted. But the governor is a man of the masses, a man of the workers. So, we are of the opinion that the only thing we need to do is to see him. He has a decision on his hands. Many of those people negotiating with us don’t have the mandate. There are workers who are fed up. There are a lot of insinuations against us, the leadership, that maybe we have not handled the issue well or maybe we have been bought over. We called a congress on Monday and we related everything to them. They wanted us to call a strike that very day, but we called their attention to the fact that the agreement signed at the national level was 30 days and we should stand by that.
We have been making efforts to see His Excellency before the time lapses. Conflict is inevitable in a relationship like this, but it is good when we have things settled amicably. So, we are asking His Excellency to rescue the situation in good time.
I want to believe that the question of subsidy removal and its negative consequences was among the items the NLC presented to the government at the negotiation table which culminated in the shelving of the recently declared nationwide strike. How do things stand now?
From the handwriting on the wall, we have it that the president has authorised the release of the fund by the end of this month. That is a positive signal. The other matter has to do with the issue of the NURTW. The Minister of Labour has said that the Federal Government would allow everything to take its normal course. At the national level, it is like everything is in good shape. I perceive that.
The costs of goods and services have hit the roof; industries are distressed; the people are suffering. Wouldn’t you say all incidices are present for Nigeria to be declared a failed state?
I wouldn’t say that. You see, there is no gain without pain. We have to give the administration of Bola Tinubu time. The administration is too young. The president said he was going to take some drastic decisions. Maybe this was part of what we had to do. But at the same time, if you have to take drastic steps or decisions, that does not mean that it is only the masses that have to pay. We have those people who embezzled the money that was meant for subsidy, the government should go after them. The government claims that a large percentage of our oil is smuggled out of the country on a daily basis, they should go after the security officers. You shouldn’t be putting the whole suffering on the masses. Whatever decisions the president wants to take, he should take in good time.
Also, the issue of the federal lawmakers buying luxury vehicles for themselves at exorbitant amounts at this time was uncalled for. Immediately subsidy was removed, the money accruing to the Federal Government’s purse increased. I am telling our leaders that that increment came because the masses, since May 29, have been buying petrol at exorbitant prices. The money comes from their pockets.
I would like you to dwell more on senators buying pricey vehicles for themselves amidst the economic hardship in the land.
With the situation on ground in the country, it is inhuman. It shows that they are there for themselves and not for the masses. That is the implication. They said they needed the vehicles in times like this. This is not the right time.
If the people in power have the guts to tell us that there is a price to pay (for the country to develop), must it be the masses that have to pay the price? To whom much is given, much is expected. As leaders, they are the ones that are supposed to sacrifice a lot and show example. So, what the lawmakers did was uncalled for.
You said that the present administration is still young and Nigerians should give it a chance. But the citizens have endured despite dashed hopes by the successive administrations. But with the way things are going from bad to worse, is it not possible for Nigerians to reach the limits of their patience?
That is a word of advice for the government, for our leaders. We have had a situation where the people were fed up. The issue of #EndSAS ought to have taught us a great lesson that there is a limit to human endurance. They should have that at the back of their minds. The present administration is asking us to give more, and thank God for Nigerians, we persevere a lot. But immediately it is obvious to the citizens that you are deceiving them, you will blame yourself. I know Nigerians for that. It is not a crime to give our leaders the benefit of the doubt, but they should be careful not to lose our trust.
You spoke earlier of the Oyo State governor, Mr Seyi Makinde, as being a man of the people. Would you say he is doing enough for the people of the state in terms of giving them palliatives to lessen their sufferings?
I am a member of the safer transport sub-committee. With what I have seen, he has actually done much, especially on transportation issues. Transport fares have been reduced by, I think, 50 percent, both intra and interstate by the Pacesetter Transport Company. But on the issue of food palliative, the comments from the people are not good enough. Many are still claiming that they were not touched with the palliative. I understand the plight of Mr Governor. At times, as a leader, you may have good intentions, but to have able people to carry out your decisions, to represent you well is another thing. I have been able to relate with him one or two times and I see what he meant for the people. But at times, the people around him don’t really represent him well. That is why I am saying there are better ways by which such could be handled.
For instance, every house belongs to one local government or another. We have councillors and the likes. If it is done through that means, it would have been better. If you want to have polio vaccination, there is a way by which they label and number every household. It could be done that way rather than going on the streets and dropping bags and then having people on rampage over a bag of rice. It does not speak well of our leaders.
The palliatives being dished out by the federal and state governments are cosmetic at best; they are just temporary measures. What should the government do to find an enduring balm to soothe the pains of Nigerians?
I think that the question the present administration, especially at the federal level, has to answer borders on the fulfillment of its promises. I remember our president saying during his campaign that he was going to reduce the price of petrol, but since he came on board, reverse has been the case. There is also the issue of the daily devaluation of the naira. It is really eating into our economy and making life difficult for the people. The president has to do something drastic. We need urgent interventions.
What is your advice for the leaders and generality of Nigerians going forward?
God has given us so much. How we live our lives is in our hands. Whatever names governments call their policies, they must have a human face. They must not add to the sufferings of the people. We, Nigerians, are courageous people. We have always shown this. But we should put in more efforts. We should continue to trust in God and believe Him for our leaders, for a better Nigeria.
Source: Nigeria Tribune
