The national president of Nigeria labour congress Joe Ajaero has on 16 of February 2024 announced a nationwide protest scheduled for Tuesday 27 and Wednesday 28 over the failure of the federal government to implement agreements reached between both parties on October 2023 following the removal of fuel subsidy.
The decision followed the conclusion of a 14 day ultimatum issued to the federal government to implement measures against the widespread hardship currently being experienced in the country, this is despite entreaties from various groups and agencies calling on labour to shelve the plan rallies.
According to national president of Al-Mushahid initiative for transparency and accountability Ambassador Alhaji Aminu Abubakar Majidadi the NLC should conduct a peaceful protest as is their right as Nigerians,but ought to be orderly saying protest is an invaluable way to speak to power and it has played a vital role in making sure peoples human right are acknowledged by government and institutions.
The federal government through a special adviser to the president described the action by the labour congress as a breach of the law and an illegal undertaking, however AITA national president call on the union to respect court order as it is the last hope of a common man saying court order is not a child’s play therefore should be respected.
He further call on the labour union not to brutalize any individual or disrupt commercial or vehicular activities when conducting their protest, saying protest organizers have a duty to identify the various groups and individuals participating in the protest in order to recognize those planning to take advantage of the situation.
He said if the protest must hold despite court order then they should carefully know themselves so as to avoid any form of violence during the nationwide rallies, because security agencies especially the police will be at hand to provide security and put necessary measures in place to ensure the safety of lives and properties.
The national president also call on the government to salvage the country from present menace ravaging the country since the removal of fuel subsidy as thing keep deterioting daily saying the government need to introduce interventions that will help cushion the effects of the economic policies of the government.
He also advocated for the judicious use of the monies given to state government to cushion the effect of the policy as previous once are marred in corruption as the state governors are not helping by not disclosing how the fund are being utilized.
Ambassador Aminu Majidadi encouraged to creation of a committee that will oversee the distribution of palliatives, comprising traditional, religious and community leaders since the sharing of food stuffs a just a momentary mechanism to support the vulnerable within the society.
He pleaded with the government to find a lasting solution as the giant of Africa and one of the economic power house on the continent, ambassador Aminu said he is dumfounded to see Nigeria left with issues of hunger at this point in time, given the numerous resources the nation is blessed with.
He support the reopening of the nation’s borders for the influx of imported food so as to crash the price of the produce in the market and the creation of price control board in order to checkmate the various associations setiing ridiculous prices in our markets.
The national president said the release of food items from the national reserve is welcome idea as it has help relieve the intense situation the nation experienced couple of weeks ago, calling for the establishment of more food banks throughout the nation.
Amb Aminu Abubakar Majidadi believe that protest is a way of showing displeasure with constituted authority and people have the right to protest peacefully and the state have a duty to respect, facilitate and protect this right, meaning they shouldn’t interfere with protest, unless there is a legitimate threat to the safety and right of others.
He advice the Nigerian labour congress to still give negotiation a chance and should take time to look inward to see reasons why the federal government has not keep to some of its obligation in the agreement reach last year.
In reminding them of the rot this present administration inherited from the previous, he urge them to give negotiation as chance as two wrongs don’t make a right, because is hard to dictate the heart of man and read the man in humans.
The blamed the government for taking a hasty decision with due consultation, saying the idea might be right but the timing was wrong as extensive consultation is required for such policies that have significant impact on the population.
On the withdrawal of the trade union congress from participating in the protest reason being not consulted before reaching conclusion the national president as a union they have the right to show their grievances by non-participation.
He advice those beginning the protest before the stipulated time to desist as it give the possibility for the hijack of the rally by hoodlums, so he call on those groups to abide by the stipulated time given to the government by the labour union.
As calls by different regional leader for their people not to participate in the protest going on around the country the national president said call on the his constituency the northern region to the government a chance as it has not taken full balance and is still taking baby steps.
AITA national president finally called on president Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR to as a matter of urgency take into recognition that he was voted by the masses and the less privilege, believing that as a grass root politician, by the vision the Nigerian youths anticipated and bestowed on him. Nigerian are supposed to be better than this, the teeming youthare dying with hunger Ambassador aminu Abubakar majidadi is further craving the indulgence as a matter of urgency to find a lasting solution to the menace that have bedevieled our country, with insecurity taking a lot of lives across the country with criminal having their way, saying unless the poor get food on his table that the rich lives. He prayed that almighty ALLAH don’t get Nigeria to the verge of the then Somalia.
