Upcoming Protest: Nigerians Are Angry, NLC Tells Tinubu

• Organised labour urged President Tinubu to engage with protest leaders to address growing discontent among Nigerians facing economic hardships
• NLC President Joe Ajaero highlighted the urgent need for dialogue, noting that millions struggle to afford even one meal daily

The leadership of organised labour has urged President Bola Tinubu to address the growing discontent among Nigerians by engaging in dialogue with the conveners of a planned nationwide protest. The protest, which will mobilise hundreds of Nigerians, is set to take place across all 36 federation states.

Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), called on President Tinubu to identify and engage with the protest movement’s leaders, emphasizing the need to listen to the people’s grievances. Ajaero highlighted the widespread hardship in the country, noting that many families struggle to afford even one meal a day.

“As the date for the widely reported national protest looms, the Nigeria Labour Congress urges President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to invite the protest movement’s leadership for discussions on their grievances,” Ajaero stated. He underscored the urgency of the situation, pointing out that millions of Nigerians are discontented with the state of the national economy.

Ajaero referenced recent data to underscore the severity of the economic crisis. He mentioned a country living standards index assessment by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), which revealed that about 133 million Nigerians live below the extreme poverty line. Additionally, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) reported that in the first three quarters of 2024, around 32 million Nigerians faced acute hunger.

He further explained that the increasing number of unemployed and under-employed Nigerians exacerbates the current hardship, pain, frustration, and despair experienced by many citizens.

“The truth is that millions of Nigerians are angry about the state of the national economy. A situation where most Nigerian families are forced to eat one miserable meal a day and eating from the dustbin is now seen as luxury beckons for serious intervention by the government,” Ajaero said, urging the government to take serious and immediate action to address these pressing issues.