NLC: How we suspended nationwide protest to avert violence

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) says it was forced to suspend the two-day nationwide protest to avert possible eruption of violence by some individuals planted to mar the peaceful demonstration.

The NLC commenced a two-day nationwide protest over economic hardship in the country on Tuesday, February 27, 2024.

On Tuesday night, the union announced the protest’s suspension, saying the objectives of the protest were achieved on the first day of the demonstration and extended the seven-day ultimatum to the federal government to 14 days.

Speaking on the development in Abuja on Wednesday, February 28, the NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, told journalists that if not for divine intervention, those who were mobilised to cause chaos were fully on ground at all routes and locations of the protest on Tuesday.

According to him, from the moment the protest was announced, the NLC suffered a series of intimidation and threats in a bid to ensure the union doesn’t go ahead with its two-day nationwide protest.

Ajaero said: “We were threatened with all manners of consequences that would be meted on us if we went ahead.

“We were, however not perturbed as lifting the heavy yoke of suffering upon Nigerian workers and masses left us with no option than to press on.

Breaking: NLC suspends nationwide protest

“We have evidence from Tuesday’s protest of the importation of agents who were mobilised to the protest routes and grounds to cause violence against the peaceful protest.

“God is, however, always a step ahead of the enemies of the workers and the Nigerian people. That was also one of the reasons we had to restructure on the second day of the nationwide protest.

“You may have noticed that almost all the routes to our office have been militarised this morning. It took a lot of time to access our office. These are not things you expect from a democratic society.

“We want to reiterate that if the government fails to comply within the specified time frame, the NEC will convene again to decide on the next line of action.

“The NLC remains steadfast in its commitment to defending and promoting the interests of Nigerian workers and the downtrodden masses, who will not succumb to intimidation.”

He added that though the NLC would continue to engage with the government to thrash out issues, it has however resolved not to meet with government on the eve of any action whether protest or strike in the country.

The NLC President said: “Each time they invite us for a meeting, we will attend and listen to them. You are aware we held a meeting with the federal government on Sunday.

“But while that meeting was going on, they wrote a letter to all the unions to come and undermine us. There is nothing they have not done to subvert the NLC. But if we are invited for another meeting, we will still go and listen.

“However, henceforth, the NLC will no longer be comfortable attending meetings on the eve of any action. Nothing comes from such meetings than to delay us and demobilize us so we don’t carry out our action.

“This is our new resolve. They cannot call us for a meeting when we have an action in two days and then keep us till late at night so we will not come out.”

The Star