The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued a stern warning against any attempts to stifle Nigerians’ rights to express their views, especially with the planned nationwide protests looming.
The NLC emphasized the importance of constructive engagement by the government with the protesters rather than resorting to oppressive measures that could infringe on citizens’ rights to voice their grievances.
NLC President Joe Ajaero called on President Bola Tinubu to address the widespread hunger and hardship in the country, urging the government to listen to the cries of Nigerians. He highlighted the dire economic conditions, referencing a National Bureau of Statistics report that indicated about 133 million Nigerians live below the extreme poverty line.
Ajaero remarked, “As the date for the widely reported national protest looms, the Nigeria Labour Congress urges President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to invite the leadership of the protest movement for discussions on their grievances. The truth is that millions of Nigerians are angry about the state of the national economy. A situation where most Nigerian families are forced to eat one miserable meal a day and eating from the dustbin beckons for serious intervention by the government.”
The protests, set to begin on August 1 under the hashtags #TinubuMustGo and #Revolution2024, have been labeled treasonable by the Presidency. Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, accused the sponsors of the protests of being anarchists, stating, “If they understand the meaning of their hashtags, they will realize they are clarion calls for treason.”
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Commissioner of Police, Bennett Igweh, has urged residents to avoid participating in the protests, emphasizing the significant efforts made to ensure security in the region. Igweh stated, “I want to appeal specifically to the residents and indigenes and everybody that is in FCT. Please, lions do not destroy their dens. You cannot see a lion that destroys its den, no. I would not like you to join this protest. I plead with you because we have suffered to ensure your safety.”
In Gombe State, the Chairman of the Network of Civil Society Organisations, Ibrahim Yusuf, confirmed that his members would not participate in the protests. He acknowledged the hardships faced by Nigerians and called for the timely delivery of relief promised by the President. He said, “While the Federal Government has distributed palliative items to the state governments, we haven’t seen any evidence of this in Gombe State. We must hold our leaders accountable for addressing the grievances of the protesters.”
Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Zubairu Umar, highlighted the government’s obligation to provide an enabling environment for citizens, acknowledging the severe economic situation. “We are in a dire situation. Much as we agree that the whole idea of government is the protection of lives and property and the well-being of people, the government is not supposed to be the one to feed you,” he said.
Speaker of the Gombe State House of Assembly, Abubakar Luggerewo, supported the timely presentation of a bill aimed at addressing the economic hardship faced by citizens, stressing the need for legislative action to alleviate the situation.
