The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has urged President Bola Tinubu to engage in dialogue with the leaders of the protest movement to address their concerns about the state of the nation.
The NLC’s statement, titled “Mr. President Should Listen to the Cry of the People,” and signed by its President Joe Ajaero, highlights the challenging living conditions faced by many Nigerians.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), approximately 133 million Nigerians live below the extreme poverty line.
Additionally, a report by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) notes that around 32 million Nigerians have experienced acute hunger in the first three quarters of 2024.
The NLC emphasises the need for the government to take seriously the grievances of the people and work towards finding solutions to the country’s economic challenges.
The protest, scheduled for August, aims to bring attention to these issues and advocate for better governance.
“When this statistics is added to the millions that are being recruited into the armies of the unemployed and under-employed Nigerians, one can easily situate the hardship, pain, frustrations and despair that many Nigerians are going through right now. The truth is that Nigerians have been hard pushed and super pressed right against the walls of deep deprivation and acute want,” the statement noted.
“It is, therefore, condescending and dismissive to describe the daily brutish ordeal that Nigerians are going through as a sponsored political dissent,” the NLC President stated. ” Even if it is so, it is still within the confines of citizens’ rights to protest on political grounds. Just that the current unease in the country does not need political motivation to spark and splurge.
“All that the hurting citizens demand from their government is a listening ear and an empathetic heart. Maybe, that is what the organisers of the protest are looking for given their continued notices on different social media platforms,” he suggested.
Ajaero explained that it would be very difficult to tell a Nigerian who has lost his or her job due to the current economic downturn to maintain their cool. “It is very tough to advise a nursing mother who is unsure where the next meal for her suckling child to be at ease. It is a herculean task to demand patience from a youth who has been out of school for the past six years without a job and is burdened with aged parents to cater for.
“During this very difficult times, the right of Nigerians to complain must be fully respected. The Organised Labour movement led by the Nigeria Labour Congress has had cause in recent times to protest against the crushing suffering in the land brought about by the harsh economic policies of government including the astronomical hike in the price of refined petroleum products, the increase in the cost of electricity cum the unavailability of the same, the unconscientious raise and duplication of user access charges to most public utilities including hospital treatment, water, waste disposal and general spike in the cost of living.
“It is the well-considered position of the Congress that bellicosity and hostility towards the protesters and other aggrieved Nigerians do not offer any tangible remedy either to the pain endured by the populace or the frustrations of having so little in a country where a few privileged persons are living in obscene luxury especially at the expense of the majority.
“These are dire times. Nigerians are angry,” NLC President reminded President Tinubu.
“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,” the NLC warned.
