The leadership of the organized labour has advised President Bola Tinubu to address the imminent nationwide protest by engaging in dialogue with its conveners.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Joe Ajaero, made this call on Monday, emphasizing the need for the President to listen to the grievances of the people.
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The nationwide protest, set to take place across all 36 states, has seen significant mobilization efforts from hundreds of Nigerians.
Ajaero urged Tinubu to identify and engage with the protest leaders, highlighting the widespread dissatisfaction among Nigerians due to the prevailing economic hardships.
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Ajaero stated, “As the date for the widely reported national protest looms, the Nigeria Labour Congress urges President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to invite the leadership of the protest movement for discussions on their grievances.”
He pointed out the severe economic struggles faced by many families, noting that the inability to afford even one meal a day has become a harsh reality.
“The truth is that millions of Nigerians are angry about the state of the national economy. A situation where most Nigerian families are forced to eat one miserable meal a day and eating from the dustbin is now seen as luxury beckons for serious intervention by the government,” he said.
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Ajaero referenced a recent assessment by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), which indicated that about 133 million Nigerians live below the extreme poverty line.
He also cited the International Rescue Committee (IRC), which reported that in the first three quarters of 2024, approximately 32 million Nigerians faced acute hunger.
“When these statistics are added to the millions being recruited into the armies of the unemployed and under-employed, one can easily understand the hardship, pain, frustration, and despair that many Nigerians are experiencing right now,” Ajaero concluded.
