NLC Proceeds On Nationwide Protests

Despite court injunctions and long-drawn negotiation meetings, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is slated to, proceed with its planned protest against recent fuel price hike, tuition fees hike in public schools and withheld salaries of lecturers and workers in universities today

There had been doubts over the fate of the nationwide protest called to demonstrate against what Labor described as ‘anti-poor and anti-workers policies’ of government, with some saying NLC would as usual, chicken out at the last minute, especially after suspending a planned strike twice this year alone.

Rising yesterday from the rescheduled Presidential Steering Committee on Palliatives meeting with Organised Labour, comprising NLC and Trade Union Congress (TUC), there had been insinuations that the labour leaders would rethink its planned nationwide protest but TUC president Festus Osifo, said the Organised Labour would consult with members whom they represent to reach a consensus on the next course of action before the day ends.

Osifo stated that while President Bola Tinubu’s palliative measures were welcoming, they were not comprehensive.

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Meanwhile, Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, described Organised Labour as a listening organisation that would not go ahead with its planned protests after listening to President Tinubu’s national broadcast on Monday.

He said: “Basically, we laid out the plan and intervention of the President as you all heard in his broadcast. We made it clear that this was Mr. President’s initial roll out interventions and the conversations will be ongoing as we go along. So, we’re hopeful that they will do the right thing and not protest tomorrow (Wednesday).”

But in a swift reaction, NLC denied rumours making the rounds that it was reconsidering the nationwide protest, which it alleged was the handwork of fifth columnists. It insisted that despite all distractions, the Congress and its members were fully mobilised across the country and nothing has changed.

NLC President, Joe Ajaero, said the Congress neither reconsidered nor suspended the nationwide mass protest. Ajaero, in a statement signed by him, listed the Congress’ demands, which include the immediate implementation in good faith of the resolution with the Congress, jointly signed with the government and TUC.

It demanded the immediate reversal of all anti-poor policies of the government, including the recent hike in fuel prices, school fees and Value Added Tax (VAT).

Part of the NLC demands, Ajaero said also include the fixing of local refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna; release of eight months withheld salaries of University lecturers and workers.