BREAKING: We'll not back down,says the NLC president,vows to go ahead with the planned protest.
Sinach
Published Date:
Feb 26, 2024
Last Updated:
The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has vowed to go ahead with its plan to hold rallies from Tuesday the 27th of February to Wednesday the 28th of February to register its displeasure over the rising cost of living the country.
The labour union, in a letter it wrote to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, said it would not be dissauded by Federal Government’s threat to initiate contempt proceedings against it.
The NLC, through its lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, maintained that contrary to FG’s claim, no court barred its members from exercising their fundamental rights to freedom of assembly and freedom of expression to protest against the excruciating economic pains being experienced by the masses.
The workers’ union accused the government of failing to honour its promises to ensure policies and programmes are put in place for workers to limit the impact of the petrol subsidy removal. While food prices have gone up over 200 per cent since the Bola Tinubu administration came on board, public workers’ salaries have yet to be increased despite the government setting up committees to work out an increase.
The government has appealed to the labour unions to shelve the strike, saying it is working hard to limit the negative impact of its policies on workers. The police have also cautioned that they would allow peaceful protests but they would not allow such protests to disturb people who are not interested in taking part in it. However, the NLC insisted on the strike.
In his Sunday statement, Mr Ajaero
The labour union, in a letter it wrote to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, said it would not be dissauded by Federal Government’s threat to initiate contempt proceedings against it.
The NLC, through its lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, maintained that contrary to FG’s claim, no court barred its members from exercising their fundamental rights to freedom of assembly and freedom of expression to protest against the excruciating economic pains being experienced by the masses.
The workers’ union accused the government of failing to honour its promises to ensure policies and programmes are put in place for workers to limit the impact of the petrol subsidy removal. While food prices have gone up over 200 per cent since the Bola Tinubu administration came on board, public workers’ salaries have yet to be increased despite the government setting up committees to work out an increase.
The government has appealed to the labour unions to shelve the strike, saying it is working hard to limit the negative impact of its policies on workers. The police have also cautioned that they would allow peaceful protests but they would not allow such protests to disturb people who are not interested in taking part in it. However, the NLC insisted on the strike.
In his Sunday statement, Mr Ajaero
, the NLC president reiterated that the labour congress and its affiliate unions would embark on its protest despite the alleged threat of disruption.
“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.
“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.
About the Author
Sinach
A les Avocat, living with the It Begins With Me Mantra and determined to dot all i's and cross all t's for a better Nigeria.
