The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has announced its intention to organize a two-day large-scale protest concerning the nation’s economic difficulties and worsening security conditions.
NLC President Joe Ajaero announced the decision during a press briefing after an urgent meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC) at Labour House in Abuja on Friday, February 16, 2024. Ajaero emphasized that the protest would begin a week after the 14-day ultimatum issued to the Federal Government on February 8, 2024, expires.
This ultimatum is set to lapse on February 23, with the planned nationwide protest scheduled for February 27th and 28th. Both the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) had given a two-week ultimatum to urge the Federal Government to fulfill the agreements made last October, aimed at mitigating the impact of petrol subsidy removal. These agreements included wage increments, a raise in the minimum wage, access to public services, and the provision of CNG buses for public transportation. However, organized labor accused the Federal Government of failing to honor these commitments intended to alleviate the adverse effects of reforms. Ajaero cautioned the Federal Government against disregarding the 14-day ultimatum deadline.
Labor unions expressed concern about the plight of millions of Nigerian workers amidst the escalating cost of essential goods, declining purchasing power, and deteriorating security conditions, all consequences of reforms such as the removal of fuel subsidies by President Bola Tinubu’s administration last May, coupled with the liberalization of the foreign exchange market.
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