NLC Insists On Nationwide Protests, Threatens Economy Shutdown If Protests March Is Attacked

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) says it is going ahead with its planned two-day nationwide protests against the rising inflation.

It threatens the total shutdown of the economy if the protest march comes under attack.

The Congress President, Joe Ajaero who gave this indication in a statement on Sunday, alleged that an emergency group being promoted by the federal government has been set up to disrupt the planned protests.

He named one of the alleged groups as the Nigeria Civil Society Forum.

Ajaero, however, said the government could not intimidate the workers and other deprived Nigerians who are hungry.

According to the NLC President, the pains of hunger could not be intimidated by bullets and tear gas.

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Ahead of the planned protests, the senior worker’s apex labour body, the Trade Union Congress, has backed out over an alleged unilateral decision by the NLC to fix the date for the protests they jointly agreed upon.

Also, 65 civil societies have backed out, while the federal government has reminded the NLC of the subsisting order of the National Industrial Court on the protests or strikes.

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 dehumanizing 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 shutdown via withdrawal of services by workers.

Let no one be deceived, we and other deprived Nigerians cannot easily be intimidated, he added.