The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has denounced the recent surge in the cost of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol, alongside other policies that are viewed as detrimental to the welfare of the impoverished.

The NLC believes that these actions are tantamount to launching an aggressive attack on Nigerian workers and the general populace.

NLC states that the act of impoverishing workers and forcing millions into deplorable living conditions is far from being considered sound economic management.

During the inauguration of a four-day program for NLC's state council leaders in the southern region held in Lagos, President Joe Ajaero asserted that the Nigerian government's actions unmistakably indicate a declaration of war against the working class and the general population of Nigeria.

The president of NLC emphasized that labor leaders nationwide must unite in the fight to uphold and safeguard the rights of Nigerian workers and citizens. It is their collective hope that one day, the workers in Nigeria will reclaim the fundamental rights that have been unjustly curtailed and disregarded by ill-informed employers and government officials who should have been at the forefront of ensuring such rights.

He further lamented that successive governments in Nigeria have callously trampled upon the rights of the Nigerian people without displaying any remorse. Politicians have joined forces against workers and the general population without facing any repercussions for their actions.

It is crucial to acknowledge that the concept of governance in Nigeria is often discussed with conflicting perspectives. While governments are meant to be dedicated to serving the people and their well-being, in our country, governance has transformed into a tool for imposing hardships and distress upon workers and the general population.

Very recently, we all observed the drastic and merciless increase in the price of PMS by the federal government, justified under the pretext of withdrawing petroleum subsidies. However, no adequate provisions were made to mitigate the anticipated and predictable consequences of such an unconscionable action.

The burden of misguided policies and unrealistic visions from our leaders cannot be indefinitely shouldered by Nigerian workers and the general populace. The ongoing sacrifice of impoverished Nigerian workers to sustain the extravagant lifestyles of the wealthy is reaching a critical tipping point.

A nation characterized by a substantial population of impoverished individuals, along with a rising number of working poor, is a recipe for significant trouble. Economic growth devoid of equitable benefits for the people holds no significance. It is within the power of Nigerians, workers, and comrades to put an end to this situation.

Employers have developed an alarming inclination and perilous habit of disregarding our rights as the creators and architects of this nation's prosperity.

From all corners of the country, reports continue to flood in about workers being deprived and unjustly denied their fundamental rights, including the right to receive fair and livable wages.

At different levels of government, there are instances where salaries remain unpaid for extensive periods, sometimes accumulating to an entire year. In the rare instances when one month's salary is disbursed, they openly celebrate their actions, mistakenly perceiving the payment of workers' rightfully earned income as an act of charity.