The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on President Bola Tinubu’s administration to halt the blame game and reverse policies that have led to widespread hardship across the nation.
The NLC emphasized the need for meaningful dialogue with relevant stakeholders to address the escalating challenges faced by Nigerians.
In a statement released after an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, the NLC, led by President Joe Ajaero, expressed concern over the government’s alleged harassment and intimidation of labor leaders.
The recent invasion of the NLC headquarters by security forces was cited as a deliberate provocation, raising serious concerns about the safety and security of Nigerian workers.
“The government’s actions began with the President’s May 29, 2023, statement declaring the removal of subsidy, followed by efforts to suppress NLC’s opposition through threats, divisive propaganda, and unfulfilled promises to alleviate the country’s hardships,” the communique stated.
“It has been a trail of systematic intimidation and violence against trade unions and their leaders.”
The NEC also condemned the recent invasion of the NLC headquarters, describing the police’s explanation as “an afterthought” and demanded a clear explanation from the government.
“This invasion is another attempt at intimidation, thus may be a clear indication of the desperation within government to silence dissent through force,” the communique continued.
Peter Obi: Protests Call for Reflection on Poverty
The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election, Mr. Peter Obi, also weighed in on the nationwide protests.
He described the protests, which ended on Saturday, as a crucial call for Nigerian leaders to reflect on the growing poverty in the country and take immediate steps to address it.
Writing on his social media platform, Obi expressed his condolences to those who lost their lives during the protests and called on leaders to urgently address the issues that sparked the unrest.
“I also want to take this moment to urge all leaders to reflect on the cries of the suffering people and address their legitimate demands,” Obi stated.
Salihu Lukman: Grounds for Impeachment
In a related development, former National Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Salihu Lukman, described the protests as sufficient grounds for the impeachment of President Tinubu and some state governors.
He criticized the government’s mishandling of the protests, stating that the administration’s response indicated a lack of clear and definitive policy.
“For an import-dependent economy, it is predictable that the two policies [subsidy removal and currency floating] will produce inflationary pressure,” Lukman said.
“Unfortunately, so far, the government of President Bola Tinubu is unable to produce any clear definitive policy response to the situation.”
Lukman further argued that if Nigeria’s democratic structures were functioning effectively, President Tinubu and many state governors would be candidates for immediate impeachment due to the current levels of frustration and desperation among Nigerians.
