"Citizen Can Protest on Political Ground": NLC Launches Fresh Attack on Tinubu
- NLC President Joe Ajaero has told President Bola Tinubu's administration to negotiate with organisers of the planned protest against hardship in the country
- Ajaero urged the government not to dismiss the organisers on the grounds that it was politically motivated
- The NLC president said it was within the political rights of Nigerians to protest for political reasons
FCT, Abuja - Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) president Joe Ajaero has urged President Bola Tinubu to listen to Nigerians' concerns amidst growing calls for protest.
Ajaero emphasized that Nigerians had the right to protest due to economic hardship caused by the administration's policies.
Source: Twitter
Protest: NLC Ajaero rejects presidency's stance
In a statement published on NLC's website on Monday, July 22, Ajaero rejected the presidency's claim that the protest was politically motivated, stating that this should not dismiss the need to engage with Nigerians.
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Ajaero noted that NLC did not protest to avoid worsening the situation but would not stand by while Nigerians' right to peaceful protest is undermined.
He described the government's response as condescending and dismissive, emphasizing that citizens need a listening ear and an empathic heart.
Ajaero called on President Tinubu to engage with Nigerians, stating that telling citizens not to protest against economic hardship is wrong.
NLC highlights Nigerians' problems
He highlighted Nigerians' struggles, including job loss, uncertainty about the next meal, and a lack of opportunities for youth.
Ajaero emphasized that respecting Nigerians' right to complain is crucial during difficult times, urging the government to engage in dialogue rather than confrontation.
He concluded by saying that the government cannot expect citizens to remain silent in the face of hardship, using the analogy of a child who cries when smacked.
His statement read in part:
“It is condescending and dismissive to describe the daily brutish ordeal that Nigerians are going through as a sponsored political dissent. Even if it is so, it is so, it is still within the confines of citizens’ right to protest on political grounds."
NLC issues fresh strike notice to Tinubu
Legit.ng earlier reported that the NLC threatened to embark on a one-month strike over an alleged plan to decentralise minimum wage negotiation.
Joe Ajaero, the president of the NLC, raised the alarm on Tuesday, July 16, adding that the move violates the concepts of equity embedded in the Nigerian constitution.
According to Ajaero, removing the minimum wage from the federal government's exclusive list to the concurrent list to allow governors to negotiate it would lead to a slave wage.
Proofreading by Nkem Ikeke, journalist and copy editor at Legit.ng.
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Source: Legit.ng
