Lagos Residents Demand Palliatives to Ease High Cost of Living
The Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration has been urged to come to the rescue of some Nigerians.
Specifically, some residents of Lagos State asked the government to urgently implement adequate palliative measures to alleviate the present high cost of living experienced by Nigerians.
The Lagos residents said the increment in petrol has led to rising costs of transport, essential commodities, and steep increases in utility bills. They noted that this had left many struggling to make ends meet.
Chairman, Association of Nigerian Private Medical Practitioners, Dr Makinde Akinlemibola, said that medical professionals are feeling the weight of the high cost of living, having no choice but to increase their consultation fee.
Akinlemibola said that the hike in the price of fuel had affected the cost of running the hospitals, from fueling the generators to huge electricity bills.
He said the situation had made it difficult for private facilities to increase their workers’ salaries.
Akinlemibola, however, urged employers to consider an increment to help them cope with the hike in transport fares and other commodities.
“The only way forward is to increase our consultation fees to meet up with the cost of running the hospital.
“It is from the consultation fee that we get the salary for staff and run the facilities.
“We cannot afford to alternate days like some government offices because we are essential workers, and we don’t know when emergencies will occur,” he said.