The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the last couple of months has been having a running battle with the federal government on a number of issues, the height of it being the attack on Joe Ajaero, the NLC President in Owerri, the Imo State capital recently. Since the assault on the NLC president, the federal government and labour have once again been at daggers drawn. Ahead of the impending strike, NLC has said it would review the memorandum of understanding (MOU) it entered into with the federal government on October 2, 2023 after the subsidy removal. NLC also demanded the removal of Mohammed Barde, Imo State Commissioner of Police, which IGP, Kayode Egbetokun has complied with. The NLC also demanded the arrest and prosecution of the aide to Hope Uzodinma, Imo State Governor, who allegedly carried out the attack on the NLC leader.
The latest development among other issues bedeviling the country to a large extent, has continued to ridicule Nigeria before the international community. The country is decaying by the day, owing to compromises here and there by the ruling party that lacks every sense of civility, so to speak. Although, the protest hitherto organised in Imo was ill timed, but the question is; why are people being treated as enemies by politicians for merely expressing their opinions? Politicians of our time, unfortunately, have lost the trust of the people. What we see are people struggling to impose themselves on the citizens, especially now that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) appears to have dashed the confidence reposed in them. That is why politicians are throwing caution to the wind. Even those of them who know they don’t stand any chance of winning election if the right thing is done are the ones in charge.
The trend of things in the country, politically may not change because the just concluded governorship elections in Imo, Kogi and Bayelsa States which results are being awaited came at a huge cost. Until we change our style, the peaceful environment everyone is yearning for would continue to elude the country. That being said, if the NLC’s threat of mobilising for a nationwide strike is not addressed urgently by the federal government, Nigeria may be in for serious trouble, looking at the dire state of the economy. The rule of law which government, unfortunately, is not living up to, has become an issue. The behaviour of our leaders is the reason things are going awry in the country. Nigeria cannot afford to embark on another nationwide strike, given the current economic situation.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should at this time ensure that his government sits up and straighten issues with NLC before the deadline expires to avoid more troubles for the people and country going through a lot. While we appeal to NLC and Trade Union Congress (TUC) to sheath their swords, the federal government should equally realise that Nigerians are over stretched and should not be subjected to further sufferings by failing to address issued raised by labour. The time to act is now!
