SHINA JO
22/02/24
PRESS RELEASE
The Nigeria Labour Congress,in a statement by the NLC President, Joe Ajaero has raised concerns over what it calls ‘unsolicited advice’ of the Department of State Security to shelve its planned protest of February 27th and 28th 20th 2024.
The NLC had briefed the media last week, saying mobilisation for a nationwide protest, will begin today, thursday, February 22, at the expiration of a 14 ultimatum to the federal government over failure to met 16 point agreements reached on October 2, 2023.
The NLC says it will be protesting not only on the renaged agreement, but, against the unprecedented high cost of living in spite of the indescribable suffering in the land, spiralling inflation, deepening poverty and the Naira at an exchange rate at N1,900 to one U.S Dollar.
The NLC said it is taken aback, with the DSS statement, because, it pre-supposed that the action is intended to be violent and disruptive even when labour has a history of peaceful protests.
Labour said More worrying is the new role the Service has assigned to itself as the chief spokes person of the government, quoting the DSS as saying; “It is common knowledge that all levels of Government are striving to ameliorate the prevailing economic condition and as such, should be given a benefit of the doubt, So far, appropriate authorities are working assiduously with a spectrum of stakeholders to fashion out modalities to address the current difficulties”.
Meanwhile, the Trade Union Congress said it has not issued any notice of nationwide protest foe February 27 and 28.
The TUC said it jointly issued a statement giving government 14 days ultimatum to address issues in the 16 point agreement and that it will know the next line of action at the expiration of the ultimatum at midnight today, February 22.
Dara Network TV 