…“We’re not politicians, it’s our right to protest” – TUC
The Nigeria Labour Congress, (NLC), has slammed President Bola Tinubu over his comment on the union’s Tuesday’s protest, which he described as “unacceptable”.
Recall that the President, at the inauguration of the Lagos Red Line project on Thursday called on the Organised Labour to maintain peace as they are not the only voice for Nigerians.
The NLC, however, told the President to channel his energy into tackling the enormous challenges facing Nigerians, rather than engaging in rhetoric with the Organised Labour.
The NLC and other affiliated unions initiated a nationwide protest on Tuesday over the rising cost of living, inflation, insecurity, and general hardship prevailing in the nation.
Protesters wielded placards bearing slogans such as: #End Poverty and Hunger, Support Local Industries; #Fix Local Refineries End Subsidy; #End Naira Devaluation, #Tax the Rich, Subsidise the poor, to articulate their concerns about the prevailing economic challenges nationwide.
During the protest, NLC President, Joe Ajaero, delivered a letter outlining their demands to President Bola Tinubu via the leadership of the National Assembly.
However, the protest, which was scheduled to last for two days was called-off on the first day.
Also, the Trade Union Congress (TUC), reacting to the President’s remarks on a television programme yesterday, said members of his union are not politicians and that they have the right to protest.
According to the TUC President, Festus Osifo, “I listened to that comment yesterday where he said that we should wait for 2027 if we want to contest for elections. I could speak for TUC; we are not politicians, we are unionists, it is our right to protest – it is a fundamental right of every single Nigeria”.
