“Invite Protest Leaders for Dialogue,” NLC President Joe Ajaero Tells President Tinubu

In a call for action, Joe Ajaero, president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has urged President Bola Tinubu to engage in dialogue with leaders planning a nationwide protest against rising living costs and economic hardship in August.

Addressing the nation’s dire economic situation, Ajaero highlighted the struggles faced by millions of Nigerians since Tinubu’s inauguration on May 29, 2023. He painted a grim picture of families barely managing on “miserable meals” and many uncertain about their next meal.

In a statement released on Monday, Ajaero emphasized the constitutional right of Nigerians to protest, stressing that the government should not deny this fundamental freedom.

“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,” Ajaero stated.

He underscored the severity of the situation, citing a National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) report indicating that about 133 million Nigerians live below the extreme poverty line. The International Rescue Committee (IRC) also warned that 32 million Nigerians are at risk of acute hunger in the first three quarters of 2024.

“All that the hurting citizens demand from their government is a listening ear and an empathetic heart,” Ajaero continued. “Maybe that is what the organizers of the protest are looking for, given their continued notices on different social media platforms.”

Ajaero acknowledged the difficulty in restraining Nigerians from expressing their dissatisfaction with current government policies, especially those facing severe economic hardship.

“It is very difficult to tell a Nigerian who has lost his or her job due to the current economic downturn to maintain their cool,” he said. “It is very tough to advise a nursing mother who is unsure where the next meal for her suckling child will come from to be at ease. It is a herculean task to demand patience from a youth who has been out of school for the past six years without a job and is burdened with aged parents to cater for.”

Ajaero concluded by stressing the importance of respecting the right to complain during these challenging times. He warned against hostility towards protesters, noting that such an approach does not address the root causes of public frustration.

“The times require the government to ‘jaw jaw’ and not ‘war war’ with Nigerians. The truth is that you cannot smack a child and at the same time ask the child not to cry,” Ajaero stated.