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.”
