During a press conference in Abuja on Monday, February 26, 2024, Festus Osifo, President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), made a strong appeal to the Federal Government, urging immediate action to alleviate the escalating food prices nationwide. He proposed that the government should start importing essential food items as an emergency measure to mitigate the severe economic strain faced by citizens.
Osifo expressed deep concern over the unprecedented level of hardship currently experienced across Nigeria, emphasizing that such distress surpasses what was witnessed even during past military administrations. He attributed the crisis partly to the government’s insufficient support for local products and services, as well as the absence of competent leadership in critical positions.
Highlighting the urgent need for intervention, Osifo emphasized, “Nigerians must survive today to appreciate the benefits of government policies tomorrow. The ambition to achieve local food self-sufficiency should, for now, be set aside. We call on all government tiers to urgently procure and distribute a wide range of food items from across the globe to the nation’s vulnerable populations.”
He argued that permitting the importation of food could significantly temper the skyrocketing food inflation. Osifo recommended that the Federal Government should allow the importation of essential food items for domestic use within the forthcoming fortnight.
Furthermore, Osifo advised President Bola Tinubu to promptly reinforce his economic management team. He urged the President to transcend political, ethnic, and tribal considerations in selecting highly competent Nigerians from around the globe, capable of crafting effective, localized strategies to combat the ongoing economic challenges.