The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has said that the approach of the federal government in solving the hunger in the country is unacceptable.
The NLC in a communique after its National Executive Council meeting said Nigerians are facing dire conditions generated and exacerbated by the ill-conceived and poorly implemented policies of the federal government.
It said these policies have led to widespread discontent and the ongoing nationwide mass protests tagged #EndBadGovernance, which commenced on the 1st of August.
“The NEC-in-session noted that Government cannot hope to stop a democratic protest by threatening the people who are already losing their lives by the unrepentant massacre of unarmed protesters by the Police but by concrete actions and reasonable dialogue.
“It reminded the federal Government that NLC had warned it before now of the consequences of heeding the anti-poor advise of the World Bank and IMF when it announced the subsidy is gone statement in May, 2023.
“It further noted that NLC had alerted the government of the ensuing hardship and general unworkability of their projection without putting adequate safeguards in place to mitigate the suffering that their policies were bound to heap upon the populace but was rebuffed by government’s huge propaganda.
“The NEC noted that NLC saw the massive poverty. Saw the ensuing hunger. Saw the danger in ignoring the people.
“Saw the reaction of the people. Also saw the organic mobilizing power of hunger and wanton deprivation. Unfortunately, the federal government never agreed with NLC but chose the route of insults and name – calling alluding to some phantom political motives and none existent primordial considerations.
“It further noted that sadly at this stage, it has also unfortunately seen the same posturing of name-calling and allusion to some invisible political intents in the whole protests. We want to quickly inform the President that this would not work.
“Even if it works today, it will not work tomorrow. The people are hungry and lives are no longer secure in the nation. Hope that used to be the last bastion for Nigerians which had made them resilient in the face of difficulties has been dashed and taken away with great impunity by the Government that promised hope. Thus, NEC makes the following observations;
“Mass Protests and Government Response: the NEC is deeply troubled by the government’s high-handed and mismanaged response to the peaceful #EndBadGovernance protests.
Instead of addressing the legitimate and fundamental grievances of the people, the government has resorted to violence, resulting in the killing and maiming of several civilians by the police in many parts of the country. This defies reason especially when what the people are demanding is that government takes step to lighten their burden which was an affliction brought upon them by the policies of the federal government.
“Trivialisation of Treasonable Felony: the NEC-in-session condemns the continuous trivialisation of Treasonable felony by Government operatives. Its constant use in every situation abuses and makes a mockery of it as a high crime against the state.
“It was surprised at the vociferous outpouring of venom by the Military chiefs against protesters wielding flags in expression of hunger and wished that the same dexterity with which they made their pronouncements was also deployed in combating the insurgents and terrorists that have held various parts of our nation captive wielding weapons.”
