The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has urged President Bola Tinubu’s administration to stop blaming others for the country’s challenges, reverse policies that have caused widespread hardship, and engage in meaningful dialogue with relevant stakeholders.
The NLC made these demands following an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting over the weekend, where it also alleged harassment and intimidation of labor leaders by the current administration. The NEC issued a communique, signed by NLC President Joe Ajaero, detailing its concerns.
Ajaero expressed that since President Tinubu assumed office, there has been a pattern of intimidation against the labor movement, citing the recent invasion of the NLC headquarters by security forces as an example. The NLC condemned this action, describing it as a deliberate attempt to silence dissent and provoke the labor movement.
The NEC demanded that the government guarantee the safety and security of Nigerian workers and trade unions, allowing them to operate freely without fear of harm or violence. The NLC also called on the government to withdraw its agents from all premises they have illegally occupied and to issue an apology for the invasion of its headquarters.
The labor congress rejected the explanation provided by the police for the invasion, labeling it an afterthought and demanding a clear explanation from the government. It also condemned the killing of innocent protesters during recent demonstrations against harsh government policies, calling for an immediate cessation of such attacks and a National Day of Mourning for the victims.
The NLC reiterated its commitment to defending the rights and welfare of Nigerian workers and vowed to take all necessary actions to ensure their safety and well-being. The NEC also directed the leadership to hold a press conference to address these issues and called for a forensic security audit of the NLC headquarters.
In a related development, Peter Obi, the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, reflected on the nationwide #EndBadGovernance protests, urging Nigerian leaders to address the growing poverty in the country. Obi emphasized the need for leaders to respond to the cries of the suffering people and to address the issues that sparked the protests.
Former National Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) North-West, Salihu Lukman, also weighed in, describing the recent protests against hunger and bad governance as sufficient grounds for the impeachment of President Tinubu and some state governors. He criticized the government’s response to the protests, arguing that it demonstrated a lack of compassion and a disconnect from the realities facing ordinary Nigerians.
Lukman called for a relaxation of the harsh policies that have exacerbated the suffering of the people and urged the government to acknowledge the reality facing citizens, rather than continuing with a “conquest mentality.” He also expressed concern about the state of Nigeria’s democracy, warning that the lack of functional political structures and engagement with energetic constituencies like the #EndBadGovernance protest organizers imperils the nation’s democratic future.
