MARGARET CHIDERA
NIGERIA: The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has firmly denied reports that it has withdrawn from the widely discussed national protest.
NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, in a statement issued yesterday clarified that NLC cannot withdraw from a protest it did not organize.
“The Nigeria Labour Congress debunks such story as patently false. The truth is that the Nigeria Labour Congress cannot withdraw from a protest that it did not organize.”
While emphasizing that only the organizers of the speculated national protest have the authority to decide whether to continue or cancel it, Ajaeroe explained that the Congress has established internal mechanisms for decision-making processes concerning industrial actions, such as protests.
“It is only the organizers of the speculated national protest that can decide to pull out or continue with the protest. The Nigeria Labour Congress has internal trade union mechanisms especially leadership decision-making processes that its industrial actions such as protests pass through before such activities are undertaken.”
Meanwhile, despite not organizing the protest, the NLC expressed solidarity with Nigerians who are suffering due to the harsh economic policies of the government. The Congress acknowledged the dire living conditions that many citizens are facing.
“The fact that the Nigeria Labour Congress is not the body organizing the protest does not mean that Organised Labour is oblivious of the dire living conditions Nigerians have been subjected to by the harsh economic policies of government. The Nigeria Labour Congress stands in solidarity with the Nigerian people in this very trying and excruciating time.”
In a call for dialogue, the NLC urged President Bola Tinubu to engage with the protest organizers to address their demands.
The Congress however, warned that responding to the widespread anger with brute force would be counter-productive.
“We have called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to invite the leaders of the protest movement to dialogue on their demands. We have advised that it would be counter-productive for government to meet the widespread anger in the land with brute force.” He cautioned
Furthermore, he urged both the federal government and sub-national governments to heed the cries of the Nigerian people and take necessary actions to alleviate their suffering.
“Once again, we implore the Federal Government and the sub-national governments to listen to the cries of the Nigerian people and do the needful,” the NLC appealed.
