The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has alleged that the government has perfected plans to launch attacks against the two-day nationwide peaceful rallies it scheduled for 27 and 28 February.
NLC President Joe Ajaero made
the allegation in a statement he signed and made available to journalists on
Sunday in Abuja.
In a swift response, however,
the federal government has denied the allegation describing it as
“speculative.”
The Special Adviser to the
President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said by raising the
allegation, “NLC is feeling guilty in hatching its hidden agenda influenced by
partisan considerations.”
Mr Onanuga who spoke to the
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the alleged attack, said the planned protest is
illegal as it is against a subsisting order of court.
He said the NLC had a hidden
agenda because most of the issues raised by labour for embarking on the protest
had been addressed by the government.
Mr Ajaero in his statement
titled, “As the State Prepares to Unleash Violence on us” alleged that one of
the groups being primed to attack the peaceful rallies is by a nebulous name,
Nigeria Civil Society Forum (NCSF).
“NCSF is one of the emergency groups
put together, funded, promoted and remote-controlled by government to cause
violence against our members for electing to peacefully protest against the
hunger in the land.
“We would want the State to
know that the solution to our horrible economic situation and hunger is not by
suppressing peaceful dissent or inflicting violence on peacefully protesting
citizens,” he said.
Mr Ajaero insisted that the NLC
and its civil society allies were moving ahead with the protest rallies against
economic hardship and insecurity in line with the decision of the National
Executive Council.
“As citizens, we have a
fundamental right to peaceful protest and history bears us witness that our
protests are always peaceful except in instances of State-engineered violence.
“In light of this, we advise
the State to put on its thinking cap and find solutions to the pains it
continues to cause the people instead of further dehumanising them,” he said.
Mr Onanuga, however, insisted
that the issues raised by the labour union had been addressed by the
government, including the payment of a wage award of N35,000 monthly for six
months.
He said the money had been paid
to civil servants up till January 2024 and only that of February is
outstanding.
The president’s aide said the
federal government had inaugurated a 37-member Tripartite Committee on National
Minimum Wage to review and come up with an acceptable and sustainable Minimum
Wage for Nigerian Workers.
He said the government had made
substantial financial commitments on the provision of CNG Buses and Conversion
Kits.
According to Mr Onanuga, the
buses will be rolled out very soon to alleviate the transportation challenges
being faced by Nigerians.
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