Following the suspension of the two-day nationwide strike, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has leveled accusations against the federal government, alleging threats and intimidation directed towards the union’s leadership.
NLC President, Joe Ajaero, made the decision to suspend the strike, citing what he deemed an “overwhelming success” on the first day.
However, he also outlined fresh demands and issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Bola Tinubu-led government regarding the country’s escalating economic challenges.
Addressing journalists in Abuja on Thursday, Ajaero condemned what he perceived as the government’s attempt to undermine the union’s efforts through tactics of division and coercion. He asserted that the decision to call off the two-day protest was influenced by threats and intimidation.
Expressing concern over the militarization of NLC headquarters and state offices nationwide, Ajaero affirmed the union’s steadfastness, emphasizing that its members would not succumb to any form of intimidation.
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Ajaero further announced the NLC’s decision to refrain from attending night meetings convened by the federal government ahead of declared nationwide mass actions, labeling such invitations as a ploy to deceive the union.
He clarified that the NLC leadership would only engage in meetings with government officials when no actions had been declared, reiterating the union’s commitment to advocating for the rights and welfare of Nigerian workers.
“Each time they invite us for meetings, we will attend and listen to them because if we don’t attend, they will blackmail us. You are aware that they held a meeting with us till late on Sunday. While that meeting was on, they wrote letters to all the unions to undermine us,” Ajaero said.
“You’re meeting with the leadership of the NLC, and you’re still inviting every union in the country to undermine us. Even at that meeting, where I was talking, they wanted two of my deputies to be talking, so that we don’t have leaders, but we survived all that.
“There is nothing on earth they have not done to subvert the NLC. Nothing! And we’re still waxing stronger. So, if they invite us for a meeting, we will still go and listen because we have our views, we have our positions, and we will still gently present our positions. We won’t say we’re not going except when we realise that…
“Henceforth, the NLC will no longer be comfortable attending meetings on the eve of any action. Never again! It was a waste of time, waste of energy and nothing comes from such meetings.
“It was to delay us, to demobilise us, and to make people have the impression that we went there to discuss other issues, apart from the issues on ground. This is our new resolve.
“You (FG) can no longer call us for a meeting when we have action tomorrow or next tomorrow, and you delay us till 11pm, 12am in the night, so that we won’t come out to mobilise for action. Such a strategy is obsolete. I think they should adopt new strategies.”
Ajaero, accompanied by renowned activist Femi Aborisade and other labor leaders, further claimed that government officials had resorted to divide-and-rule tactics in attempts to undermine the NLC’s efforts. This included allegedly dispatching individuals to organize counter-protests on Tuesday.
He also accused the government of repeatedly violating agreements and laws, citing the non-operational status of the Port Harcourt refinery as a prime example. Despite assurances of its operation commencing in December, the refinery remains inactive.
“I was there when Tinubu asked the Minister of State for Petroleum, Heineken Lokpobiri, about when the refinery would work. As we’re talking, no drop of fuel or PMS has dropped from that refinery! They should stop lying to people,” Ajaero said.