NLC suspends protest, gives FG fresh 14-day ultimatum
….Partial Compliance As NLC Holds Nationwide Protests Over Economic Hardship
…..Protest Against Hunger Needless – Presidential Spokesman
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has suspended its protest slated for Wednesday, saying it has achieved “overwhelming success on day one” of the protest.
It however said “nationwide action continues tomorrow with simultaneous press conferences across all the States of the federation by the state Councils of the Congress including the National Headquarters.”
The NLC said this in a statement by its President, Joe Ajaero and Acting General Secretary, Ismail Bello on Tuesday.
It gave the Federal Government a fresh 14-day ultimatum, which will elapse on March 13 for the full implementation of all the October 2, 2023 agreement and other demands presented in its letter during Tuesday’s nationwide protest.
The NLC on Tuesday called workers, civil society affiliates and State Councils out for a nationwide protest against mounting hardship and insecurity in the country.
The protest, which took place in many cities, didn’t affect official activities as civil servants, banks and other enterprises went about their businesses.
The statement reads: “To suspend street action for the second day of the Protest having achieved overwhelming success thus attained the key objectives of the 2-day protest on the first day.
“However, Nationwide action continues tomorrow with simultaneous Press Conferences across all the states of the federation by the state Councils of the Congress including the National Headquarters.
“To reaffirm and extend the 7-days ultimatum by another 7 days which now expires on the 13th day of March, 2024 within which the Government is expected to implement all the earlier agreement of the 2nd day of October, 2023 and other demands presented in our letter during today’s nationwide protest.
“To meet and decide on further lines of action if on the expiration of the 14 days Government refuses to comply with the demands as contained in the ultimatum.
“Once again, NEC recommits the NLC to continuing defending and promoting the interests and desires of Nigerian workers and the downtrodden masses.”
Protest Against Hunger Needless – Presidential Spokesman
Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, has slammed the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) for staging a nationwide protest which he described as needless.
Nigerian cities witnessed peaceful protests on Tuesday as members of organised labour flooded the streets to demonstrate against the economic hardship and spiralling inflation confronting the citizenry.
Last-minute efforts by the Federal Government to stall the protest had ended in deadlock.
President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero, however, led protests that were staged in Abuja, Lagos, Ibadan, Jos and other major cities of the country.
Among other prominent Nigerians who participated in the protests include Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde; human rights lawyer, Femi Falana; the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, and others.
Reacting to the protests, the presidential spokesperson said the federal government has already started addressing the hardship.
Ngelale said this during an interview with TVC adding that the fact that the Trade Union Congress (TUC) did not join the protest shows that it was needless.
“Any labour union that is speaking to the concerns of Nigerian families, the pains that are being felt by our people, is absolutely free to do so. It is right that Nigerians speak up in difficult situations,” he said.
“And the government has been doing everything possible to alleviate those concerns. But we also want to separate the legitimate concerns being expressed by some of the labour unions from people trying to leverage some of the situations in the country to achieve a political agenda.
“We have seen the Trade Union Congress (TUC) pull out of the purported nationwide protest. We have seen the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) pull out of the protest. There is no unanimity behind what NLC is trying to do. I believe all of the legitimate concerns being raised by the unions are being tackled by the administration of President Bola Tinubu.”
The protest which was a two-day warning to the federal government continues tomorrow.
