By Gideon Maxwell
July 23, 2024
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued a stern warning against any attempts to curtail Nigerians’ fundamental rights to voice their opinions, particularly in light of the planned nationwide protests.
Instead of stifling dissent, the NLC urged the government to engage with the protesters constructively.
“The government should not engage in a ‘war-war’ situation with Nigerians but negotiate,” stated NLC President Joe Ajaero.
President Bola Tinubu was specifically called upon to heed the cries of Nigerians suffering from widespread hunger and hardship.
“Millions of Nigerians are angry about the state of the national economy,” said Ajaero, referencing a National Bureau of Statistics report which found 133 million Nigerians living below the extreme poverty line.
Scheduled for 1 August, the protests are being mobilised under the hashtags #TinubuMustGo, #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria, and #RevolutionNow.
The Presidency has labelled these calls as treasonous, accusing Labour Party candidate Peter Obi and his supporters of propagating these hashtags.
“Wanting to end an elected government is high treason,” asserted Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.
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In contrast, the NLC emphasised that the government should invite protest leaders for discussions.
“A situation where most Nigerian families are forced to eat one miserable meal a day demands serious intervention,” Ajaero stressed.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police for the Federal Capital Territory, Bennett Igweh, urged residents to avoid the protests, citing security concerns.
“We have made significant efforts to ensure security in the FCT. Please, do not destroy where you are living,” Igweh pleaded, highlighting the sacrifices made by the police to maintain safety.
In Gombe State, civil society leaders distanced themselves from the protests but called for the government to deliver on its promises of relief.
“While the Federal Government has distributed palliative items, we haven’t seen any evidence of this in Gombe State,” noted Ibrahim Yusuf, Chairman of the Gombe Network of Civil Society Organisations.
Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Zubairu Umar, underscored the government’s obligation to create an enabling environment.
“It’s not the government’s responsibility to feed you; they need to provide an enabling environment,” he said, acknowledging the dire economic situation that necessitates government intervention.
The Speaker of the Gombe State House of Assembly, Abubakar Luggerewo, highlighted the urgency of addressing economic hardships through legislative measures.
“The bill was presented as an executive bill and is timely given the current economic hardship faced by citizens,” he remarked.
