Protests: NLC calls for relief measures to ease sufferings

The Nigeria Labour Congress NLC, has called on the federal government to urgently implement measures that would alleviate the suffering of Nigerians, and avert further protests.

The organisation made the demands on Wednesday in a communique signed by Joe Ajaero, President and Emmanuel Ugboaja, the NLC General Secretary, at the end of an emergency national executive council meeting.

The labour Union chided the federal government for excessive deployment of force that resulted in the killing of some armless protesters who had thronged the streets in demand for means to deal with hunger and sufferings ravaging the country.
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The communique said the federal “ government must implement immediate relief measures to alleviate the suffering of workers and the general populace.

“The NEC is deeply troubled by the government’s high-handed and mismanaged response to the peaceful #EndBadGovernance protests”

The NLC condemned in the human rights violations perpetrated by security forces against peaceful protesters, adding that “The right to protest is a fundamental democratic right, and its suppression through violence is unacceptable. The attempt to criminalize protest is completely deplorable especially in a democracy.

“This includes the provision of direct food aid, subsidies on essential commodities, and other social safety nets in a way that it would reach the people and not hijacked by politicians”.

NLC said the meeting was called to assess the welfare of Nigerian workers and the general populace in light of the severe hardship, deprivation, and hunger afflicting our nation.

“These dire conditions generated and exacerbated by the ill-conceived and poorly implemented policies of the federal government, which have led to widespread discontent and the ongoing nationwide mass protests tagged #EndBadGovernance, which commenced on the 1st of August, 2024.

The labour Union insists that the government cannot hope to stop a democratic protest by threatening the people who are already losing their lives by the unrepentant massacre of unarmed protesters by the Police but by concrete actions and reasonable dialogue.

The body recalled that it had earlier warned the federal Government before now of the “consequences of heeding the anti-poor advise of the World Bank and IMF when it announced the subsidy is gone statement in May, 2023.

“The NLC had alerted the government of the ensuing hardship and general unworkability of their projection without putting adequate safeguards in place to mitigate the suffering that their policies were bound to heap upon the populace but was rebuffed by government’s huge propaganda.

“The NEC noted that NLC saw the massive poverty. Saw the ensuing hunger. Saw the danger in ignoring the people. Saw the reaction of the people. Also saw the organic mobilizing power of hunger and wanton deprivation.

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“Unfortunately, the federal government never agreed with NLC but chose the route of insults and name – calling alluding to some phantom political motives and none existent primordial considerations.

The Union also berated the government for engaging in name-calling and allusion to some invisible political intents in the whole protests.

“We want to quickly inform the President that this would not work. Even if it works today, it will not work tomorrow.

“The people are hungry and lives are no longer secure in the nation. Hope that used to be the last bastion for Nigerians which had made them resilient in the face of difficulties has been dashed and taken away with great impunity by the Government that promised hope. Thus, NEC makes the following observations

“Instead of addressing the legitimate and fundamental grievances of the people, the government has resorted to violence, resulting in the killing and maiming of several civilians by the police in many parts of the country. This defies reason especially when what the people are demanding is that government takes step to lighten their burden which was an affliction brought upon them by the policies of the federal government.

The NLC also disagreed with the government over what it described as “continuous trivialisation of Treasonable felony by Government operatives. Its constant use in every situation abuses and makes a mockery of it as a high crime against the state.

“It was surprised at the vociferous outpouring of venom by the Military chiefs against protesters wielding flags in expression of hunger and wished that the same dexterity with which they made their pronouncements was also deployed in combating the insurgents and terrorists that have held various parts of our nation captive wielding weapons.
“The hiring and use of sponsored thugs and divisive propaganda in an effort to scuttle the protests is most unfortunate.

The NEC – in – session also frowns strongly at the unwarranted use of subterfuge on the Congress by the Government through the federal ministry of Labour as it concerns our Rights to political participation.

Labour called on the government to institute an independent investigation into the killings and maiming of protesters.

“Those responsible for these heinous acts must be held accountable, and justice must be served to the victims and their families. All the peaceful protesters held illegally and unconstitutionally in Government’s gulag must be freed without delay.

It noted the unprofessional and unethical conduct of the Minister of labour through the Registrar of Trade Unions in wilfully misdirecting a politically motivated letter to NLC. It is tendentious, mischievous and provocative.

The NLC also called on the federal government to reverse all the ill-conceived policies that have led to the current economic crisis. The government must implement policies that prioritize the welfare of the people, create jobs, and ensure fair distribution of resources.

“NEC – in – Session mandates the national leadership to decide on the day NLC will set aside as a National Day of Mourning in honour of those who were maimed and lost their lives in the ongoing #EndBadGovernance nationwide protests.

“The NEC-in-session urges the federal government to engage in meaningful dialogue with representatives of the protesters, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders to resolve all the issues at stake to end the national carnage. This is to avoid NLC being compelled to direct its members to stay home for the safety of their lives”.