ASUU Urges Workers to Remain Resilient in the Face of Challenges as They celebrate Workers Day

The chairman of ASUU, Ilorin branch, Dr. Alex Akanmu has urged Nigerian workers not to lose faith in the country despite the challenges. He made this declaration while addressing workers at the 2024 Workers Day.

Dr. Alex Akanmu, the chairman of the University of Ilorin branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), urged Nigerians not to lose faith in the country’s potential despite the prevailing challenges during his address on the occasion of the 2024 Workers Day.

He emphasized that it is imperative for the government to promptly address the nation’s ailing economy.

Akanmu spoke about the somber mood overshadowing this year’s celebration, attributing it to various hardships faced by workers and citizens, including rising inflation, dwindling purchasing power, and unaffordable basic necessities.

He also stressed the urgent need for governmental intervention to alleviate the situation, cautioning that the current state of affairs is unsustainable and demands immediate attention.

Akanmu ended his address by commending the resilience of Nigerian workers while criticizing the disparity between their plight and the privileges enjoyed by certain politicians.

Read part of his address below:

“Inspite of all these, our hope in a great country in undaunted and we call on all not to lose hope. It is however instructive to take the advantage of a day such as this to call on the government to do the needful in saving the failing economy.

“This year worker’s day came with lots of sober reflections. The day ordinarily is meant to be for jubilation and rejuvenation of commitments to wanting to do more, but morale is low and the hitherto unwavering dedication is gradually being eroded.

“The challenges being faced by the Nigeria workers and by extension, the Nigeria masses are enormous and quite disturbing. Starting from unguided removal of subsidy, ridiculous take home package, agitations for living wages now catched up with astronomical inflation rate, cost of goods and services that has become unpredictable daily and, basic amenities which are now far from the reach of common man,” he added.

Addressing the president he said “Government and in particular, President Bola Tinubu must be told that things are not okay any longer in this country.

“The hike in electricity tarrif and fuel crisis that greeted the week has caused many homes serious pains and economic hardship. It is also the week of paying school fees for parents and all have become debtors with no assurance of repayment. You can be sure of no food in many homes this morning.

“This situation calls for immediate attention. The situation is better described as timed bomb and sitting on a keg of gun powder. We call on the government to address these issues without further delay. The speculated salary increase for civil servants are no longer in tandem with current realities,” the union leader said.

“While greedy politicians go home with commonwealth and even preparing in advance for their children, our salaries are perpetually subjected to debate with no encouraging outcomes. One thing is certain, in our unity, we shall overcome,” he noted.

READ ALSO: Nigerian Lecturers Have Been On Same Salary For 15 Years – ASUU tells Tinubu

SOURCES: ALLSCHOOL, LEADERSHIP