Nigeria Labour Congress announces position on proposed August 1 national protest

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has rejected claims that it has withdrawn from the proposed national protests, stating that it remains in solidarity with Nigerians suffering from economic hardship and hunger.

The union said it has internal trade union mechanisms especially leadership decision-making processes that its industrial actions such as protests pass through before such activities are undertaken.

In a Wednesday statement by President Joe Ajero, the NLC noted that it cannot pull out of a protest it did not organize, reiterating its commitment to supporting the people.

The statement reads, “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 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. 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 this very trying and excruciating times.

He charged the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led government to dialogue with the organisers as he stressed that it would be counter- productive for the government to meet the widespread anger in the land with heavy force.

“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.

“Once again, 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,” the statement said.