NLC To Embark On Two Days Nationwide Protest Over Economic Hardship, Insecurity

The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) will embark on a two-day nationwide protest due to the hardship being experienced by Nigerians as well as the deteriorating security situation in the country.

NLC President, Joe Ajaero, disclosed this during a press briefing in Abuja on Friday after an emergency meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC) of the union.

He said the protest will commence a week after the expiration of the 14 day ultimatum it issued to the Federal Government which will expire on February 23.

The planned days for the nationwide protest is February 27 and 28.

On February 8, the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) gave a two-week ultimatum to the government to meet demands ranging from wage increments to improved access to public utilities, and accused it of failing to uphold pledges to soften the impact of reforms.

Ajaero said the Federal Government should not flout the deadline of the 14-day ultimatum.

The organised labour lamented that millions of Nigerian workers are facing hunger, erosion of purchasing power and insecurity due to reforms that drove up inflation.

This followed President Bola Tinubu’s decision to scrap a popular but costly fuel subsidy last May coupled with his administration’s lifting of restrictions on currency trading, which more than tripled petrol prices.

Africa’s biggest economy is now grappling with a cost of living crisis, fueled by the highest inflation rate in nearly three decades.

The widespread insecurity has also hit agricultural output, fuelling food price inflation.

The unions in a statement, gave the government 14 days to deal with “issues crucial to the well-being of Nigerian masses and workers.”