The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has refuted claims that it has withdrawn from a planned national protest, clarifying that it was never involved in organizing the protest.
In a press release issued on Tuesday, NLC President Joe Ajaero stated that the union cannot withdraw from a protest it did not initiate. He emphasized that the NLC has its own internal mechanisms for deciding on industrial actions, including protests.
Ajaero underscored that while the NLC is not involved in the planned protest, it stands in solidarity with Nigerians suffering from harsh economic policies.
“The truth is that the Nigeria Labour Congress cannot withdraw from a protest that it did not organize. It is only the organizers of the speculated national protest who 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,” Ajaero said.
He added, “Yet, the fact that the Nigeria Labour Congress is not the body organizing the protest does not mean that Organised Labour is oblivious to the dire living conditions Nigerians have been subjected to by the harsh economic policies of the government. The Nigeria Labour Congress stands in solidarity with the Nigerian people in these very trying and excruciating times.”
The NLC called on President Bola Tinubu to engage in dialogue with the protest organizers and address their demands.
“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. After all, it is said that the voice of the people is the voice of God,” the statement read.
The NLC also warned against using brute force to suppress the protests, urging the government to listen to the people’s grievances and take necessary action.
