The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has weighed in on the planned protest against hardship currently ravaging most Nigerians.
The protest scheduled to hold on August 1 to 15 has gained traction online and polarised Nigerians so much so that already a pro-government rally is scheduled for the same period.
Speaking on it, NLC president, Comrade Joe Ajaero, in a statement, denied reports of the congress’ withdrawal from the protests.
“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 said.
“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,” he added.
He therefore called for dialogue between government and the intending protesters, advising that using force to suppress the move might be counter-productive.
His ow words, “Pursuant to proactive engagement with the issues canvassed by the protest organisers, we have called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to invite the leaders of the protest movement to dialogue on their demands.
“We have advised that it would be counter-productive for government to meet the widespread anger in the land with brute force.
“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.”
