THE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has debunked reports on its alleged withdrawal from the planned mass protest by some Nigerians against economic hardship.
The president, Joe Ajaero in a statement released on Wednesday, July 24, noted that the NLC could not withdraw from a protest it did not organise.
“A news report of the withdrawal of the Nigeria Labour Congress from the widely discussed national protest has been brought to our attention. 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. It is only the organisers of the speculated national protest that can decide to pull out or continue with the protest,” Ajaero stated.
He further noted that the NLC had a process which it follows for industrial actions such as protests, adding that despite not being the body responsible for the protest, they were aware of the living conditions Nigerians had been subjected to by the harsh economic policies of the government and would stand with Nigerians.
“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.
“Yet, 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. The Nigeria Labour Congress stands in solidarity with the Nigerian people in these very trying and excruciating times.”
On Monday, July 22, The ICIR reported that the NLC warned the government against engaging in a “war-war” situation with Nigerians by trying to suppress citizens’ fundamental right to protest.
The union noted that it was condescending and dismissive to label the daily harsh struggles faced by Nigerians as a politically motivated dissent, urging the government to negotiate with the protesters instead of taking actions that could undermine citizens’ rights to express their grievances.
The ICIR reports that some Nigerians, along with a group led by former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore, have been mobilising to start nationwide protests in the first week of August.
The posts and tweets on the protest carry different hashtags, ranging from #RevolutionNow, #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria, #TakeItBack, #DaysofRage and #TinubuMustGo.
Multimedia journalist covering Entertainment and Foreign news