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By Chukwuma umeorah
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has said that it was not going back on its planned nationwide strike action to begin on Tuesday unless there is a meaningful intervention from the government to alleviate the plight of Workers and the entire masses.
In a powerful Independence Day message, titled, “NIGERIA: THE TRAVAILS OF A MISMANAGED GIANT”, The President of NLC, Joe Ajaero had expressed deep concerns over the state of the nation, highlighting issues of mismanagement, corruption, and the declining quality of life for Nigerians and called for a collective approach to address these critical challenges.
“Our nation needs men and women who can rise and save her from those who have captured our nation and are using its levers just for their own selfish ends without any care at all in the world about the workers, the unemployed and the suffering. We need men and women who will deliver us from the galloping powers of neo-colonialism especially their internal collaborators who rule our nation at their behest without a care of the consequences of their actions for millions of our citizens.
To this end, Ajaero deepened the call for mobilization for the strike. His words, “We call on all Nigerians to join us on the 3rd day of October around Nigeria to begin our march to freedom through the indefinite nationwide strike.”
In the same message, Ajaero recalled Nigeria’s promising start at independence in 1960 stressing that nation was seen as a rising star with abundant resources, a thriving economy, and a united populace. However, the decades that followed were marred by political instability, corruption, and missed opportunities.
The labor union expressed dismay over the decline of key sectors such as healthcare, education, and transportation. They questioned why Nigeria, once self-sufficient, now had to import products that it once produced locally, such as refined petroleum products and steel. Additionally, they raised concerns about the devaluation of the Naira and the lack of stability in the foreign exchange market.
The NLC noted that despite their hard work, many workers struggled to make ends meet. The national minimum wage, they argued, was insufficient to cover basic expenses, and workers often had to sleep in their workplaces due to transportation costs.
The NLC called for government action to address these issues, including cash transfers for the vulnerable, tax rebates for low and middle-income earners, and investments in social housing, healthcare, and quality education. They also stressed the importance of accountability and transparency in government.
