The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has denied reports claiming it has withdrawn from a planned nationwide protest against economic hardship scheduled for August 1. NLC President Joe Ajaero clarified that the union cannot withdraw from a protest it did not organize.
In a press release titled “The Nigeria Labour Congress cannot withdraw from a protest that it did not organise,” Ajaero stated, “The Nigeria Labour Congress debunks such a story as patently false. The truth is that the Nigeria Labour Congress cannot withdraw from a protest that it did not organise.”
Ajaero explained that the NLC follows a structured decision-making process, including internal trade union mechanisms and leadership approval, before engaging in industrial actions like protests. He emphasized that while the NLC is not organizing the protest, it recognizes the severe economic conditions affecting Nigerians.
“The fact that the Nigeria Labour Congress is not the body organising 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,” Ajaero stated.
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He affirmed the NLC’s solidarity with the Nigerian people during these challenging times and urged President Bola Tinubu to engage with the protest leaders to discuss their demands. “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,” Ajaero added.
The planned protest has gained momentum on social media with hashtags like ‘#EndBadGovernance,’ ‘#TinubuMustGo,’ and ‘#Revolution2024’ trending widely. Meanwhile, the Presidency and police authorities have called on youths to abandon the protest plans.