‘JAW JAW’ NOT ‘WAR WAR’ - NLC Calls for Dialogue Over Planned Nationwide Strikes Amid Economic Hardship
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has broken its silence on the impending nationwide protest, urging President Bola Tinubu to address the grievances of millions of Nigerians suffering from economic hardship. In a statement signed by NLC President Joe Ajaero, the congress highlighted the dire economic conditions, citing alarming statistics from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and the International Rescue Committee (IRC).
Ajaero emphasized the urgency of the situation, noting that 133 million Nigerians currently live below the extreme poverty line, while 32 million have faced acute hunger in the first three quarters of 2024. Additionally, millions more are joining the ranks of the unemployed and under-employed.
Describing the scenario as “dire,” Ajaero urged the government to engage in constructive dialogue rather than dismissing the protests as "sponsored political dissent." He stated, "It is very difficult to tell a Nigerian who has lost his or her job due to the current economic downturn to maintain their cool. It is very tough to advise a nursing mother who is unsure where the next meal for her suckling child will come from to be at ease."
The NLC president called for the government to respect the right of Nigerians to voice their concerns, particularly during these challenging times. He criticized the government’s harsh economic policies, including the significant hike in the price of refined petroleum products, the increase in electricity costs, and the rising charges for public utilities such as hospital treatment, water, and waste disposal.
Ajaero’s statement underscored the NLC's position that hostility towards protesters will not alleviate the suffering endured by the populace. "It is the well-considered position of the Congress that bellicosity and hostility towards the protesters and other aggrieved Nigerians do not offer any tangible remedy either to the pain endured by the populace or the frustrations of having so little in a country where a few privileged persons are living in obscene luxury especially at the expense of the majority. These are dire times. Nigerians are angry."
He concluded with a powerful call for dialogue: "The times require government to 'jaw jaw' and not 'war war' with Nigerians. The truth is that you cannot smack a child and at the same time ask the child not to cry. A stitch in time might still save nine!"
The NLC's call for dialogue comes as Nigerians prepare for a 10-day protest starting on August 1st, demanding better living conditions and an end to economic hardship. The upcoming demonstrations reflect the widespread frustration and anger among citizens over the current state of the economy and the perceived neglect of their welfare by the government.
As the nation braces for these protests, all eyes are on the government's response and its willingness to engage with the concerns of its citizens in a constructive and meaningful way.
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