NLC distances itself from August nationwide protest

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The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has denied involvement in organising the nationwide protest scheduled to begin on August 1 and last for ten days.

In a statement released on Wednesday and signed by its President, Joe Ajaero, the NLC dismissed reports linking the union to the protest as false.

“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. The Nigeria Labour Congress has internal trade union mechanisms, especially leadership decision-making processes that its industrial actions such as protests pass through before such activities are undertaken. 

“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 the government.”

The NLC expressed solidarity with the Nigerian people during these challenging and painful times.

The union urged President Bola Tinubu to invite the leaders of the protest movement for dialogue, following proactive engagement with the issues raised by the organisers.

“We have advised that it would be counterproductive for the government to meet the widespread anger in the land with brute force. 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.”