Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Niger State Chapter, has accused Niger State Government of scheming out workers and pensioners in the distribution of palliatives in the state.
  
Chairman of NLC in Niger, Idrees Lafene, and his Trade Union Congress (TUC) counterpart, Ibrahim Gana, during a briefing, yesterday, at the NLC office, IBB Road in Minna, stated that government’s decision to exclude the working class and retirees in the first phase of the palliatives distribution stood logic in its head; hence would not be accepted by the working class who toils daily to create wealth for the state.
 
They said the government’s “deliberate” plan to scheme out workers and pensioners triggered serious tension among members of organised labour that could have a negative effect on the overall productivity of the working class.
  
Lafeene explained that the pathetic situation working class and pensioners find themselves in the state left more to be desired, adding that following the hyper inflation, insecurity and hunger that greeted the untimely removal of petrol subsidy, the Federal Government refused to dialogue with NLC on efforts to cushion the hardship faced by the masses, especially the working class.

He revealed that in response to the mounting tension from workers, organised labour convened an emergency state administrative council meeting on Sunday, September 3, 2023 and directed workers to boycott participation in the committee and distribution of palliatives.
 
The NLC boss stated that the State Administrative Council also resolved that the N110 million announced by the governor as palliatives for industrial unions should be collapsed and added to whatever palliatives is intended for the workers and credited directly to the salary accounts of civil servants and retirees in the state and local councils sustainably for six months.