The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), on Tuesday night, suspended its two-day nationwide protest. The decision came after the National Executive Council meeting, where they deemed the objectives of the protest achieved on the first day itself.
The protest stemmed from various economic challenges facing Nigeria, including rising inflation, food inflation, forex crisis, and economic hardships exacerbated by the removal of petrol subsidy. Despite last-minute talks between the Presidency and labour leaders on Monday night, the protest proceeded as planned.
Labour leader Joe Ajaero emphasized that the protest was not just about a minimum wage review but also about addressing hunger among the populace.
“You have to understand it. This protest is about hunger. What of those who are not working? The minimum wage, when will it be completed? When will it be implemented? What will be the minimum wage that will remove hunger?” Ajaero queried. However, in its communique late Tuesday, the first day of the protest, the highest organ of the NLC suspended “street action for the second day of the Protest having achieved overwhelming success thus attained the key objectives of the 2-day protest on the first day”.
“However, Nationwide action continues tomorrow with simultaneous Press Conferences across all the states of the federation by the state Councils of the Congress including the National Headquarters.
“To reaffirm and extend the 7-days ultimatum by another 7 days which now expires on the 13th day of March, 2024 within which the Government is expected to implement all the earlier agreement of the 2nd day of October, 2023 and other demands presented in our letter during today’s nationwide protest.
“To meet and decide on further lines of action if on the expiration of the 14days Government refuses to comply with the demands as contained in the ultimatum.”