The Nigeria Union of Journalists, Federal Capital Territory (NUJ-FCT), Abuja, has expressed deep concern about the significant increase in public transportation costs resulting from the removal of fuel subsidy.
In a joint statement issued by the Acting Chairman, Òsárétín Òsádébàmwén, and the Secretary of Council, Ochiaka Ugwu, the Union highlighted the difficulties faced by workers in both the public and private sectors who struggle to commute to their workplaces.
Many individuals have been forced to abandon their low-paying jobs due to the inability to afford transportation expenses.
The Union emphasized that the aspiration for a better Nigeria was shared by all citizens.
It said that while achieving this goal might require sacrifices from everyone, it should not jeopardize the survival and well-being of the people.
“The sharp increase in intra-city transportation costs, reaching up to 150% in some cases, has significantly eroded the earnings of most Nigerians,” it said.
Given the dire situation, the NUJ urgently called for government’s intervention to prevent the potential social tensions and adverse consequences that may arise.
The NUJ-FCT specifically requested immediate action from the Federal government and the FCT Administration in the form of transport palliatives that covered all intra-city routes.
“This measure aims to alleviate the hardships faced by Nigerians due to the exorbitant transportation costs,” it stated.
While acknowledging President Bola Tinubu’s fulfilment of his campaign promise to remove fuel subsidy and redirect the revenue loss towards other social welfare programmes, the Union said it believed that the provision of transport palliatives was a pressing intervention that would significantly alleviate the situation.
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