The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on the Federal Government to urgently address the ongoing cash scarcity affecting citizens across the country.

This appeal came from NLC President Joe Ajaero, who, alongside NLC General Secretary Emmanuel Ugboaja, signed a communiqué issued after the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Owerri on Thursday.

During the NEC session, Ajaero expressed concern over the continuous lack of cash

He described it as an unjust hardship that further burdens Nigerians who are already enduring economic difficulties.

Also, he mentioned the exploitative nature of the situation, pointing out that Nigerians are being forced to lose up to five per cent of their money every time they withdraw cash due to exorbitant fees imposed by financial institutions.

This practice, he noted, is unfair and exacerbates the financial struggles faced by millions, particularly those in the informal economy.

Ajaero stressed that small businesses and informal workers, the backbone of Nigeria’s economy, are particularly vulnerable.

Many of these businesses rely on daily cash transactions, and the persistent scarcity threatens their survival and growth.

“The impact of this on small businesses and other informal economy operatives is huge,” he explained.

The NLC is demanding immediate intervention from the government to resolve this issue and uphold the financial rights of citizens.

Ajaero specifically called on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to take decisive steps to ensure the availability of cash.

According to him, this is crucial not only for easing everyday transactions but also for stimulating economic activities across the country.

“We expect the Central Bank Governor to take steps to ensure that cash is made available to the citizenry to enable small business transactions and stimulate economic growth,” he stated.