The president of the senate, Godswill Akpabio, has bemoaned the low wages received by National Assembly members, which are insufficient to meet the large number of demands from their constituents.
While participating in the discussion of a motion on the necessity of preventing an upcoming strike by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), which was sponsored by Abdulraman Kawu Suleiman (NNPP, Kano), Akpabio made the comment.
He claimed that notwithstanding the significant hardship brought on by the elimination of the subsidy on petroleum products, Nigerians must exercise more patience with the government as it develops measures to lessen their suffering.
In order to support his motion, Kawu pointed out to the Senate that “the strike would paralyze the country. The ability to move would be severely limited. Markets, schools, and healthcare facilities would have to close, and commercial transportation providers would stop operating. He issued a warning that the strike could inflame the political climate and that its benefits might not outweigh the costs to the parties involved.
“The strike threat by the NLC, if avoided, might push Nigeria into even more dire economic straits, disrupt businesses, generate hunger, resentment, and other hardships that would result in immeasurable financial losses and lower Nigeria’s GDP.
The NLC strike, he continued, “is also bad for the Nigerian economy and educational system because it portrays the country in a negative light to the outside world and deters foreigners from coming to do business or study in the country.” After the discussion, the Senate ordered its leadership to mediate between the NLC and the Federal Government in order to stop the strike.