Ajaero says that the NLC’s planned strike is meant to help Nigerians.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) announced on Wednesday that its seven-day strike will be held to free Nigerians from the shackles of government policies that have caused them agony.
The NLC had previously issued a seven-day ultimatum to President Bola Tinubu’s administration to rescind “all anti-poor” policies, including the increase in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol.
Moments later, NLC president Joe Ajaero appeared on Channel Television’s Politics Today, where he stated that the union was still studying the issue, with the risk that the government strategy would exacerbate already severe situations.
“The situation would deteriorate. It is more of a rescue operation to see if the government can show some empathy for us to do things differently to help Nigerians live,” he explained.
President Bola Tinubu claimed in his inauguration address on May 29 that “fuel subsidies are gone” after nearly two months.
The strategy resulted in a near-instant increase in fuel prices from roughly N185 to N500, and as high as N617 last week. With rising transportation and food prices, thousands have resorted to long-distance walking.
The NLC president claims that the next strike will lessen the impact of the government’s policies on the general public.
“It can’t get any worse than this.” “We’re talking about the impact on commodities or the impact on people,” Ajaero explained.
“What we are resisting and fighting against is the impact on people, and the impact is enormous.” It’s even worse.”
He regretted that the government’s initiatives, which should benefit the economy, were having a negative impact on the people.
“I don’t know what other consideration one can look at; every government policy in a nation is aimed at benefiting the nation,” the labour leader said.
“The naira has vanished; economic activity has vanished; food has vanished.” (You can’t move, and transportation is no longer available.”
According to a communiqué issued at the conclusion of its Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting on Tuesday, the NLC has threatened to go on a total and indefinite strike beginning Wednesday, August 2, 2023, if the Federal Government fails to act.