The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is calling on President Bola Tinubu to engage with the leaders of the impending national protest to address their concerns. In a statement titled “Mr President should listen to the cry of the people,” signed by NLC President Comrade Joe Ajaero, the organization highlights the severe economic hardships facing millions of Nigerians.
The NLC expressed disappointment with the current economic situation, noting that many families are struggling to afford even one meal a day. They emphasized that the worsening poverty levels, as indicated by the National Bureau of Statistics and the International Rescue Committee, demand immediate government intervention.
The NLC criticized dismissing the hardships as politically motivated dissent, asserting that citizens have the right to protest. They stressed that the government must listen and empathize with the people’s suffering.
“It’s tough to ask someone who lost their job due to economic downturns to stay calm or a mother unsure of her child’s next meal to be at ease,” the statement read. The NLC warned against hostility towards protesters and called for dialogue, not confrontation, as the way forward.
