The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has declared a fierce confrontation with the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, regarding the ongoing demolitions in the nation’s capital, Abuja. The NLC’s President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, likened these demolitions, which predominantly target impoverished communities, to an act reminiscent of Hitler’s tyranny.
During a recent interview on AIT, Comrade Ajaero expressed his concerns, stating, “Shelter is among Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, and you go and demolish it, asking them to go to hell, while your so-called master plan remains concealed in your pocket. Nobody knows where your master plan is. And you watch as they, some of whom have invested their retirement benefits to establish homes (only to see them demolished), endure this injustice. This cannot continue.”
Accusing the Nigerian elites of waging war against the poor, Comrade Ajaero emphasized that “Nigeria’s political class must realize that the suffering of the impoverished has reached unbearable levels.” He criticized the manner in which Wike has conducted these demolitions, primarily affecting the underprivileged in Abuja, describing it as “an act that further impoverishes the masses and is carried out with a shocking level of impunity, akin to Hitler’s tyranny in Germany. This must cease, as it directly impacts more workers. If one examines whose homes are being razed, it becomes evident that this class of people lacks adequate housing alternatives.”
Comrade Ajaero further decried the erosion of Nigeria’s commitment to welfare provisions, even when such provisions are constitutionally mandated. “Nobody seems to care about transportation, clean water, electricity, or access to education and healthcare. Even when workers contribute towards housing policies, their contributions are being diverted. This war cannot persist,” he vowed, pledging to halt the demolitions that allegedly target the working class in Abuja.
The NLC’s resolute stance against the demolitions spearheaded by Minister Wike highlights the growing discontent over housing issues and the need for the government to prioritize the welfare of its citizens.
