The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has advised the Federal Government to release all COVID-19 palliatives remaining in warehouses across the country.
The labour union stated this in a Monday statement signed by its President, Ayuba Wabba against the backdrop of recent looting of the palliatives in many states.
The union said releasing the palliatives would help to ameliorate the suffering of many Nigerians.
Meanwhile, NLC condemned the looting of the palliatives and warehouses belonging to private entities.
“It is obvious that the palliative provisions that were procured by government for immediate distribution to the mass of our people at their critical time of need and to assuage the hardship occasioned by the lockdown were hoarded and held back by some government officials,” NLC stated.
“The reasons for this have not been made known to the public. We also understand that many of the palliative provisions are already getting rotten in the warehouses where they were stored.
“While we condemn the ensuing mass looting of both the Covid-19 palliatives and non-Covid-19 palliative materials, we equally deplore the conduct of some government officials who stored away relief materials that should have been distributed to the masses of our people at their very trying times of need.
“We call on the Federal Government to investigate the conduct of those who hoarded the palliative provisions.
“In order to forestall riotous plundering of the remaining relief palliatives, the Nigeria Labour Congress demands that the Federal Government should order the immediate release of all the welfare provisions and materials to citizens.
“As we had demanded in the past, the distribution of the palliative provisions should be transparent, and inclusive with active participation of mass-based citizen groups.”