The Arewa Consultative Forum has asked Federal Government to give greater attention to the region

 The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), a northern Nigerian socio-cultural organization, has expressed its position regarding the discussions between the federal government and major labor unions NLC and TUC on Monday, following the strike threat that had been scheduled for Tuesday, October 3rd.

After intense discussions between representatives of the labor unions and government officials, it was agreed that the strike action would be suspended for 30 days.

The labor unions had embarked on the planned strike due to the current economic challenges faced by most Nigerians, exacerbated by the recent removal of fuel subsidies and the subsequent increase in the cost of living, which has hit the majority of Nigerians particularly hard.

As part of the agreement, the federal government has pledged to provide a relief package that includes 25,000 Naira to be disbursed over three months to 15 million vulnerable Nigerians, starting this October, with the program also set to include young graduates.

However, the ACF has emphasized that the government should prioritize the well-being of the northern region in its policies and actions.

The National Population Commission's 2022 survey indicated that nearly 65% of Nigerians living below the poverty line reside in the northern region.

Murtala Aliyu, the spokesperson for the ACF, stated that "suspending the strike is a good thing because there is nothing that can be achieved by embarking on a strike other than adding more hardship to the already suffering people."

He mentioned that this labor action is a testament to the challenges that the youth in Nigeria are facing, highlighting that the federal government needs to pay close attention to the issues it intends to address in order to alleviate the suffering of the Nigerian people.

"Regardless of the strike, the major and most urgent challenge is the severe economic hardship and the high cost of living, which has resulted in the emergence of new forms of poverty that the government needs to tackle head-on. However, people are resilient," said Murtala Aliyu.

He also emphasized that providing financial relief alone may not be sufficient to improve the country's situation, as the government's policies and actions, particularly in the northern region, need to be more focused and effective.

"We are faced with multiple challenges, and the primary task is to bring about positive change that will benefit the people and address their pressing needs," he added.