Why we can’t withdraw from planned nationwide protest — NLC

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has disclosed why withdrawing from the planned nationwide protest over the economic hardship in the country is not an option.

Speaking in a press release in response to reports that it has withdrawn from the protest, NLC President Joe Ajaero stated that the union cannot withdraw from a demonstration it never organised.

Titled ‘The Nigeria Labour Congress cannot withdraw from a protest that it did not organise’, the statement reads: “A news report of the withdrawal of the Nigeria Labour Congress from the widely discussed national protest has been brought to our attention.

“The Nigeria Labour Congress debunks such a story as patently false.

“The truth is that the Nigeria Labour Congress cannot withdraw from a protest that it did not organise. It is only the organisers of the speculated national protest that can decide to pull out or continue with the protest.”

Ajaero further disclosed that the NLC operates with a well-structured decision-making process which guides its industrial actions, such as protests, to ensure consideration before taking action.

“Yet, the fact that the Nigeria Labour Congress is not the body organising the protest does not mean that Organised Labour is oblivious of the dire living conditions Nigerians have been subjected to by the harsh economic policies of the government,” he added.