BREAKING: NLC denies withdrawing from nationwide protest against hunger and economic hardship

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has denied withdrawing from the planned nationwide protest against economic hardship scheduled for August 1.

This was contained in a Tuesday press release signed by labour president, Joe Ajaero titled, ‘The Nigeria Labour Congress cannot withdraw from a protest that it did not organise.’

Ajaero in the statement said the union cannot withdraw from a protest that it did not organise.

“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,” Ajaero said.

Ajaero explained that 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 clarified.

He said the NLC is standing in solidarity with the Nigerian people in these “trying and excruciating times.”

Ajaero also called on President Bola Tinubu to invite the leaders of the protest movement to dialogue on their demands.

“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,” he said.

The planned protest has gained traction on social media, where it is trending under the hashtags ‘#EndBadGovernance,’ ‘#TinubuMustGo’ and ‘#Revolution2024.’

The Presidency and police authorities have called on youths to abandon the plan.

The Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris speaking onbehalf of the federal government to State House correspondents yesterday following a meeting with the President at the Presidential Villa Abuja, called on Nigerian youths to cancel their planned protes and await the government’s response to their concerns.

He said the president is attentive to the voices of young Nigerians and is working diligently to address their grievances.

The minister said, “We also discussed the issue of the country generaly and Mr President has asked me to again inform Nigerians that he listens to them, especially the young people that are trying to protest.

“Mr President, he listens to them; he takes what they say seriously and he is working assiduously to ensure that this country is good, not just for today but also for the future.

“The issue of the planned protest, Mr President does not see any need for that; he asked them to shelve that plan and he has asked them to await government’s response to all their pleas.”

The minister highlighted recent developments to underscore the government’s commitment to addressing national issues.

He listed the developments to include the National Assembly’s swift passage of the National Minimum Wage Bill, transmitted just a day prior; distribution of grains and rice to state governments to alleviate food insecurity; launch of a student loan programme to ensure access to higher education regardless of financial background and plans for a post-NYSC support scheme for unemployed graduates.

Idris stressed that these initiatives are part of Tinubu’s broader vision for an inclusive government that leaves no one behind.

“The whole idea is that no one is left behind. It is an all-inclusive government, and the president is determined to ensure that no one is left behind in this attempt to march Nigeria towards progress,” the minister said.