‘Maintain Peace, You’re Not The Only Voice Of Nigeria’, Tinubu Tells NLC
PRESIDENT Bola Ahmed Tinubu has asked the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to maintain peace in the best interest of the country.
Speaking at the commissioning of the Lagos Red Line rail, today (Thursday, 29 February 2024,), President Tinubu stated that: “Allow me to throw a jab here. The Labour Union should understand that you’re not the only one with freedom & rights.
“If you want to participate in the electoral process, meet us in 2027.
“If not, maintain peace. You’re not the only voice of Nigeria.”
The President came hard on the Union in the course of his remark, saying the Labour Union should understand that despite its acclaimed right and freedom, it cannot fight an administration that is just nine months old.
It will recalled that the leadership of NLC on Tuesday staged a nationwide protest to ventilate their grievances about the rising cost of living. the labour centre was joined by thousands of other Nigerians even as they marched across major streets across the country.
However, the protest that was initially scheduled for two days was unceremoniously called off Tuesday night as the labour leaders cited threats and intimidation by government officials.
In a communique at the end of its National Executive Council meeting on Tuesday, the NLC said the objectives of the protest were achieved on the first day of the demonstration.
“Consequently, NEC-in-session resolved as follows: to suspend street action for the second day of the Protest having achieved overwhelming success and thus attained the key objectives of the 2-day protest on the first day,” the communique reads.
“However, Nationwide action continues tomorrow with simultaneous Press Conferences across all the states of the federation by the state Councils of the Congress including the National Headquarters.”
The NLC NEC also resolved in its meeting, to “reaffirm and extend the 7-day ultimatum by another 7 days which now expires on the 13th day of March, 2024 within which the Government is expected to implement all the earlier agreement of the 2nd day of October, 2023 and other demands presented in our letter during today’s nationwide protest”.
“To meet and decide on further lines of action if, on the expiration of the 14 days, Government refuses to comply with the demands as contained in the ultimatum,” the communique reads.
Meanwhile, the President while speaking in Lagos further declared that: “There is a very bright light at the end of the tunnel. Nigeria will be out of the economic problem; we just need to persevere and work hard”.
President Tinubu said the commissioning of the Red Line was the culmination of the vision he nursed 25 years ago when he was governor of the state, calling for more collaboration between the Ministry of Transport and other states to develop railway infrastructures across the country.
Eighteen-Eleven Media
