Protest, strike action won’t resolve challenges, CSOs tell NLC, TUC

A coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs) has appealed to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) to shelve their planned protest or strike action, saying non of the two can resolve the socio-economic and other challenges bedeviling the country.

The NLC had declared a two-day nationwide mass protest for February 27 and 28, 2024, over insecurity and the economic hardship biting Nigerians.

But addressing a press conference on Thursday in Abuja, the convener, Dr. Godwin Abutu, said the NLC and TUC should come to a round table where patriotic Nigerians are concerned and doing everything humanly possible to end hunger, stabilise the currency and secure the people.

“It is common knowledge that embarking on strike actions has not resolved any problem faced by the Nigerian masses recently. The leadership of the NLC/TUC should organise itself to contribute intellectually to the common challenges we have now rather than sabotaging the system.

“Whatever challenges that has accompanied that policy (fuel subsidy removal) should be collectively resolved by us and not frustrate a policy that has seen more revenue in our federating units and local governments.

“We do not expect the leadership of NLC/TUC to pretend not to be aware that the warning strike won’t proffer any solution to our present predicament but rather satisfy only their ego and cash out from their sponsors and co-travelers,” he said.