NLC Issues Warning Against Suppressing Hunger Protests
By Deborah Tolu-Kolawole, Solomon Odeniyi, and Chima Azubuike
On Monday, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) cautioned against any attempts to stifle Nigerians’ fundamental right to protest, especially in light of the planned nationwide demonstrations.
The NLC urged the government to engage with the protesters constructively, rather than resorting to actions that could undermine citizens’ rights to express their grievances. The labor union also called on President Bola Tinubu to heed the pleas of Nigerians who are suffering from hunger and widespread hardship.
A segment of the Nigerian population has been mobilized for nationwide protests starting on August 1, using the hashtags #TinubuMustGo and #Revolution2024. The Presidency, however, has labeled such calls as treasonable and accused the Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his supporters of propagating these hashtags.
In a detailed tweet on his X account, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, accused the protest sponsors of being anarchists rather than democrats. “If they understand the meaning of their hashtags, they will realize they are calls for treason. Wanting to end an elected government is high treason. Wanting a revolution is a call for a coup d’état, which is also high treason,” Onanuga stated.
Despite this, the NLC emphasized the importance of dialogue over confrontation. In a statement on Monday, NLC President Joe Ajaero called on President Tinubu to invite protest leaders for discussions. “The truth is that millions of Nigerians are angry about the state of the national economy. A situation where most families are forced to eat one miserable meal a day and scavenge from dustbins requires serious government intervention,” Ajaero said.
He referenced a recent National Bureau of Statistics report, which found that about 133 million Nigerians live below the extreme poverty line. Ajaero added, “When this statistic is combined with the millions who are unemployed or underemployed, the severe hardship and frustration many Nigerians are experiencing become clear.”
Ajaero criticized the government’s dismissive attitude towards the public’s struggles, calling it condescending. He urged the authorities to address the root causes of the widespread hardship.
Meanwhile, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Commissioner of Police, Bennett Igweh, urged residents to avoid participating in the protests. Speaking to journalists in Abuja, Igweh highlighted the significant efforts made by the police to ensure security in the FCT, stating that the protests could jeopardize these efforts. “We have worked hard to ensure your safety. I have lost men in the line of duty. Let our sacrifices suffice for the protest,” Igweh appealed.
He pointed out that the government had made improvements, such as providing good roads in the FCT, and warned against the potential destruction that protests could bring. “We don’t need you to be in the streets challenging the police. Please do not destroy where you live,” Igweh pleaded.
In Gombe State, the Chairman of the Gombe Network of Civil Society Organisations, Ibrahim Yusuf, stated that his members would not join the planned protests. Speaking during a public hearing at the Gombe State House of Assembly, Yusuf highlighted the severe hardship in the country and called for the relief promised by the President to be delivered.
Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Zubairu Umar, acknowledged the dire situation, noting that while the government is responsible for creating an enabling environment, it has now become necessary for it to intervene directly. “The government’s role is to protect lives and property and ensure the well-being of its people. However, circumstances have forced the government to take additional measures,” Umar said.
Speaker of the Gombe State House of Assembly, Abubakar Luggerewo, noted the timeliness of the executive bill presented to the Assembly, given the current economic hardships facing Gombe State residents and Nigerians in general.
