TUC Calls for Continued Food Imports Amid Economic Hardship

During a press briefing in Abuja, Nigeria, the President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Festus Osifo, advocated for the sustained importation of food to mitigate the rising cost of living and economic challenges faced by Nigerians. He stated that food imports should persist until security issues are sufficiently resolved, allowing farmers to safely return to their farms and boost domestic food production.

Osifo supported the government's food-importation policy, which he claimed has helped lower staple commodity prices, warning that halting imports prematurely could lead to a spike in food prices. He also called for stronger measures to stabilize the naira, noting the exchange rate's improvement from approximately 1,800 naira to the dollar in early 2024 to around 1,400 naira currently, while insisting it should ideally be between 900 to 1,000 naira.

Additionally, he urged the government and the National Assembly to expedite legislation for state police and emphasized the importance of technology in addressing insecurity.