The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has threatened to shut down its services across the country if labour members are attacked during its scheduled two-day demonstration on February 27, 2024.
Labour’s President, Joe Ajaero, issued a statement on Sunday stating that the scheduled industrial action will not be cancelled.
The NLC stated that the Federal Government must put on its thinking cap and implement its agreement with organised labour, as well as solve Nigeria’s looming economic crisis of survival.
Nigeria is dealing with rising inflation, food inflation, a currency crisis, economic hardship, and a high cost of living as a result of the elimination of petrol subsidies, which has sparked protests in some parts of the country.
Despite the government’s subtle pressure to cancel the scheduled strike, the NLC claimed its members will not be intimidated into abandoning their anticipated statewide demonstration.
“All we are saying now is that; let there be food for the people, let the people live in safety, let the people live a life of dignity devoid of suffocating IMF/World Bank economic policies,” the group said in a statement.
Labour also warned that plans for attacks on planned peaceful protests around the country had been completed.
Ajaero said, “We would want the State to know that the solution to our horrible economic situation and hunger is not by suppressing peaceful dissent or inflicting violence on peacefully protesting citizens as the government did in Minna and other cities where its agents tear-gassed and beat up women before locking them up for raising their voice against hunger. It does not lie in the deployment of State -sponsored terror. Bullets and tear gas cannot put an end to hunger.
“In light of this, we at the Nigeria Labour Congress and civil society allies are moving ahead with our protest rallies against economic hardship and insecurity in line with the decision of the National Executive Council.”
“We advise the State to put on its thinking cap and find solutions to the pains it continues to cause the people instead of further dehumanising them.
“However, if it is irrevocably set on the path of violence against us and other peace-loving Nigerians, it will be making a costly mistake because if we are attacked there will be a total shut down via withdrawal of services by workers. Let no one be deceived, we and other deprived Nigerians cannot easily be intimidated,” he added.