President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), a leading labour movement in the country, Joe Ajaero has advised the Federal Government, led by President Bola Tinubu to dialogue with organisers of the nationwide protest planned for August 1 to 10.
In a statement today, July 24, on whether the NLC will participate in the protest or not, Ajaero said: “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.”
In the statement titled: ‘The Nigeria Labour Congress cannot withdraw from a protest that it did not organise,’ the NLC President said: “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.”
According to Ajaero, the NLC has a structured decision-making process, which includes internal trade union mechanisms and leadership approval, that guides its industrial actions, such as protests, to ensure consideration before taking action.
“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 said that the NLC is standing in solidarity with the Nigerian people in these “trying and excruciating times.”

“We are going to elections very soon; these are political gimmicks.”
This was the conclusion drawn by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyeson Wike, regarding the planned nationwide protest by Nigerians over hardships in the country.
Speaking to newsmen yesterday, July 23, after an inspection of some projects, the minister insisted that President Bola Tinubu inherited what he called “rotten country.”
“The country is rotten. You know that the country is rotten, and a government has just come to see what it can do to, at least, move it from where we are to a certain level, and you say that miracle must be performed within one year.
“You are here now, we are talking about a project that was awarded 13 good years ago, what has happened? Nothing.
“Now a government has come to see how it can fix all these things and we are in too much of a hurry demanding that it must be done now. It is not possible.
“So, let’s not listen to political protesters and political jobbers who just want to be popular. You know there are some people who believe that if they don’t criticise, they will not be popular.
“Just know that the government is a serious government and working to solve the problem.
“We believe that things will turn around, but we should be patient with the government.”

Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, has encouraged Nigerians to exercise their rights to protest against economic hardship in the country.
Atiku, who contested for Presidency in 2023 under the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), stressed that any attempt to suppress the right of Nigerians to go on protest is both unconstitutional and a direct affront to democracy.
In a statement today, July 23, the main opposition leader said that the Constitution of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) guaranteed citizens the right to protest peacefully.
Atiku Abubakar said that the accusation and threat from the Presidency that some persons were behind the protest is an exercise in futility.
Atiku said: “for the avoidance of doubt, the rights of citizens to protest are enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution and affirmed by our courts. Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution (as altered) unequivocally guarantees the right to peaceful assembly and association.
“Chasing shadows and contriving purported persons behind the planned protests is an exercise in futility when it is obvious that Nigerians, including supporters of Tinubu and the ruling APC, are caught up in the hunger, anger, and hopelessness brought about by the incompetence and cluelessness of this government.”
The former vice president recalled that President Tinubu, his supporters and his party, All Progressives Congress (APC) led a protest in 2012 against the government of former president, Goodluck Jonathan.
“It is deeply ironic that those who now seek to stifle these rights were themselves leading protests in 2012. A responsible government must ensure a safe and secure environment for citizens to exercise their constitutionally guaranteed rights to peaceful protest.”
Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, had recently accused former presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, and his supporters of being responsible for the protest scheduled to commence on August 1.
There have also been other indirect threats from the Presidency to Nigerians concerning the protest tagged: “End bad Governance.”

Senate President, Godswill Akpabio has apologized to Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan for shouting her down during a plenary last week, telling her “Senate Chamber is not a Club House.”
Senator Akpabio, amidst the apology today, July 23, lamented that because of that statement he made, his phone and that of his wife have been bombarded with calls and text messages, “most of them insults.”
The Senate President wondered about the interest shown in the social media, which he said “shows that we (Senators) have enemies.
“Distinguished Senator Natasaha, I want to apologise to you. I felt I should tender a public apology to you. I do not mean any harm. “People should concentrate on things that will move this country forward.
“Social media handlers should practice with decorum. We won’t, out of anger, regulate social media.”
Senator Akpabio stressed that he would never intentionally denigrate any woman.
“I will not intentionally denigrate any woman and I always pray that God will uplift women,” he said.
During plenary last week, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central) spoke without being recognised by the Senate President.
Akpabio then told her that the Chamber was not a “nightclub.”
Weeks prior, Senator Ireti Kingibe (FCT, LP) was shut down when she protested that she was being excluded from the affairs of the nation’s capital.
Yesterday, July 22, a women’s group, Voices for Inclusion and Equity for Women (VIEW), knocked Akpabio for his alleged disrespect of female senators.
Senator Akpabio also reacted to allegations by a blogger, Gistlover that he had numerous lovers known locally as ‘side chics.’
The blogger had claimed that some of his ‘side chics’ were celebrities such as Ini Edo, Nancy Isime, Hilda Baci, Dakore Egbuson-Akande, Nwanneka Nkumah, and Nnadi Shontel.
The Senate President reacted: “I have only one wife and she is enough for me.”

Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo has called for improved collaboration with the World Bank Group in the implementation of development projects in critical sectors of the state’s economy.
A statement today, July 21 by the special adviser to the Governor on media and publicity, Ismaila Isah said that Governor Ododo spoke when he paid a working visit to the new Country Director of the World Bank Group in Nigeria, Dr. Ndiame Diop at the Bank’s office in Abuja.
He said that the Governor used the engagement with the Bank to review all ongoing World Bank projects in the state, requesting for an expansion in areas of critical interventions such as education, healthcare, agriculture and infrastructural to enhance the overall social and economic development of the state.

The spokesman quoted Governor Ododo as calling for a pragramatic approach to all World Bank interventions to conform with the state’s 30-year Development Agenda of shared hope and prosperity and to ensure better coordination of all projects and programmes in the state.
The new World Bank Country Director, Dr. Ndiame Diop assured Governor Ododo of his readiness to deepen cooperation and partnership with the Kogi State government.
He stressed that he would working with the Governor to accelerate implementation of all ongoing World Bank projects and programmes in Kogi State.
Governor Ododo was accompanied by the Chief of Staff, Ali Bello, commissioners and senior top government officials.