The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has refuted reports claiming that the labour body has withdrawn from a planned national protest.

In a press release, the NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, clarified that the NLC cannot withdraw from a protest it did not organize in the first place. Ajaero stated, “The truth is that the Nigeria Labour Congress cannot withdraw from a protest that it did not organize. It is only the organizers of the speculated national protest that can decide to pull out or continue with the protest.”

The NLC has internal mechanisms and decision-making processes that guide its industrial actions, including protests. Ajaero emphasized that the NLC is not the organizing body for the widely discussed national protest.

However, the NLC expressed solidarity with the Nigerian people, who are facing dire living conditions due to the harsh economic policies of the government. Ajaero revealed that the NLC has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to invite the leaders of the protest movement to a dialogue to discuss their demands.

“We have advised that it would be counter-productive for the government to meet the widespread anger in the land with brute force,” Ajaero said. “We implore the Federal Government and the sub-national governments to listen to the cries of the Nigerian people and do the needful.”

The NLC’s statement comes amid growing public discontent over the economic challenges facing the country, including high inflation, rising cost of living, and concerns over job security. The planned national protest aims to draw attention to these issues and pressure the government to take immediate action.

The NLC’s clarification underscores the labor union’s commitment to protecting the rights and well-being of Nigerian workers and citizens, while also emphasizing the importance of proper channels and decision-making processes within the labor movement.