THISDAY
Former Vice-President, Atiku Abubukar, has slammed the federal government, accusing it of subsidising corruption in government.
In the May Day message, Atiku said as Nigerian workers joined their counterparts across the world today to celebrate International Workers’ Day, it was a sobering truth that the plight of the Nigerian worker remained dire.
He said, “Despite prolonged pledges and flowery words by the government, the much talked-about prospects of wage increment for the Nigerian worker remains a mirage. Every dawn unveils renewed hardships and harsh living conditions.
“After the contraction and contradictions by the government about whether the subsidy regime has gone or it is still being implemented, the country is today facing the angst of frustration by Nigerians who waste precious man-hours in queues at petrol stations across the country,” he stated
According to Atiku,, “The petrol subsidy is purportedly gone, yet its impact lingers – revealing the ineptitude of the current federal government.
“In an unprecedented manner and condescending of both the Nigerian worker and the general public, this current federal government announced a unilateral removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit without consultations with representatives of the Nigerian worker.
“The continued increase in tariffs in different service offerings without addressing the corruption and inefficiencies in the system only amounts to long-suffering Nigerians subsidising the corruption and inefficiencies in the system.
“Since the days of legendary, Pa. Michael Imoudu, to latter day fire brands such as Pascal Bafyau and Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, the Nigerian worker has been at the forefront of the fight against tyranny and bad governance.
“No administration in our history has trampled workers’ rights like this one. Daily, workers face uncertainty over skyrocketing prices of essential goods,” he said.
Atiku said the Nigerian worker has had it so rough under this current administration and it was unfortunate that while the living conditions of the Nigerian worker remained at a miserably low ebb, the Nigerian government continued to regale its international audiences with tales of how the masses were being weaned of their wasteful dependence on government.
