The Nigeria Labour Congress has called on President Bola Tinubu to engage with protest leaders as tensions rise over the country’s economic situation.
In a press release issued on Monday, NLC President, Joe Ajaero, emphasised the dire circumstances facing many Nigerians and the urgent need for government intervention.
“The truth is that millions of Nigerians are angry about the state of the national economy,” Ajaero stated.
He highlighted the severity of the situation, stating, “A situation where most Nigerian families are forced to eat one miserable meal a day and eating from the dustbin is now seen as luxury beckons for serious intervention by government.”
The NLC cited recent statistics to underscore the scale of the crisis. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, approximately 133 million Nigerians live below extreme poverty lines. Furthermore, the International Rescue Committee reports that in the first three quarters of 2024, about 32 million Nigerians have been exposed to acute hunger.
Ajaero rejected the notion that the planned protests are merely politically motivated, stating, “It is, therefore, condescending and dismissive to describe the daily brutish ordeal that Nigerians are going through as a sponsored political dissent.”
The labour leader emphasised the right of citizens to express their grievances, saying, “During these very difficult times, the right of Nigerians to complain must be fully respected.”
He recounted recent protest led by the NLC against various government policies, including fuel price hikes and increased electricity costs.
Urging a conciliatory approach from the government, Ajaero said, “These are dire times. Nigerians are angry. The times require government to ‘jaw jaw’ and not ‘war war’ with Nigerians.”
“The truth is that you cannot smack a child and at the same time ask the child not to cry. A stitch in time might still save nine.”