Ajaero leading Labour members in a procession
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has threatened to shut down its services all over the country should any of its members are attacked or arrested during its planned two-day protest beginning February 27, 2024.
The NLC in a statement on Sunday, signed by its President, Joe Ajaero, said there is no going back on the planned industrial action.
The police had warned Labour not to trample the rights of others as it embarks on the proposed strike.
“All we are saying now is that; let there be food for the people, let the people live in safety, let the people live a life of dignity devoid of suffocating IMF/World Bank economic policies.
Labour also raised the alarm that plans have been perfected to attack planned peaceful rallies across the
“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. The pangs of hunger cannot be cowed by bullets or tear gas.
“In light of this, we at the Nigeria Labour Congress and civil society allies are moving ahead with our protest rallies against economic hardship and insecurity in line with the decision of the National Executive Council.”
“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 dehumanising 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 shut down via withdrawal of services by workers. Let no one be deceived, we and other deprived Nigerians cannot easily be intimidated,” he added.
Ajaero said the strike would go on because government has not done what it should do to, neither heeded the agreement with labour.
