THE NIGERIA Labour Congress (NLC) has adduced reasons for annulling the second day of its planned two-day nationwide street protest over hunger and economic hardship in the country caused by the implementation of neo-liberal economic policies by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
In a communiqué released after a meeting of its National Executive Council (NEC) on Tuesday evening in Abuja, jointly signed by Comrade Joe Ajaero, and Comrade Ismail Bello, President and Acting General Secretary respectively, the NLC said NEC took the decision after it reviewed and realised that the “key objectives of the two-day protest” had been attained on the first day.
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The communiqué however noted that “Nationwide action continues tomorrow [Wednesday] with simultaneous Press Conferences across all the states of the federation by the state Councils of the Congress including the National Headquarters.”
The communiqué reads in full:
COMMUNIQUE AT THE END OF A NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL (NEC) MEETING OF THE NIGERIA LABOUR CONGRESS (NLC) HELD ON TUESDAY, THE 27TH DAY OF FEBRUARY 2024
The NEC of Congress in session on Friday 16th 2024, ordered a 2-Day Nationwide Protest to join Nigerians in demonstrating outrage over the massive suffering and hunger facing the masses and workers as a result of the policies of the government to hike the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and float the Naira.
The NEC-in-session therefore reviewed the execution of the first day of the nationwide protest to assess its effectiveness and take decision on further necessary action to guide Congress in its effort at engaging government to protect the people and Nigerian workers from the increasing scourge of hardship.
To this end, NEC commended Nigerians, all NLC affiliates, state Councils, Workers and Civil Society Allies across the Nation for trooping out in large numbers to peacefully demonstrate their outrage on the hardship imposed by the government and its twin altars – the IMF and the World Bank.
NEC also deeply appreciates Nigerian workers and masses for sending a strong message to the powers that be on their united resolve to demand accountability from those who occupy positions of leadership in our nation. It believed that the message has strongly resonated.
Consequently, NEC-in-session resolved as follows:
1. To suspend street action for the second day of the Protest having achieved overwhelming success thus attained the key objectives of the 2-day protest on the first day.
2. However, Nationwide action continues tomorrow with simultaneous Press Conferences across all the states of the federation by the state Councils of the Congress including the National Headquarters.
3. To reaffirm and extend the 7-days ultimatum by another 7 days which now expires on the 13th day of March, 2024 within which the Government is expected to implement all the earlier agreement of the 2nd day of October, 2023 and other demands presented in our letter during today’s nationwide protest.
4. To meet and decide on further lines of action if on the expiration of the 14days Government refuses to comply with the demands as contained in the ultimatum.
Once again, NEC recommits the NLC to continuing defending and promoting the interests and desires of Nigerian workers and the downtrodden masses.
Comrade Joe Ajaero Comrade Ismail Bello
President Ag. General Secretary
