By Abiola Olawale
The waging war between the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Federal Government under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has continued to generate more fire than ever.
This is as the Labour strongly criticized Tinubu for his recent comments, accusing him of being disconnected from the daily realities faced by Nigerians.
The Labour knocked the President for focusing his energy on its activities, saying Tinubu should rather redirect his efforts towards fulfilling his fundamental duty of providing good governance that will alleviate the hardship faced by Nigerians.
This is coming after Tinubu, while commissioning of the Red-Line Railway Project iN Lagos state lambasted Labour for calling for nationwide strike, saying that they are not the only voice that speak for Nigerians. The president also said that the NLC should throw its bagon in and contest against him in 2027, if they are interested in partisan politics. This has since generated deep concern among Nigerians, as many saw the President’s statement as a sign of acrimonious relationship between FG and Labour.
Reacting to the statement, the NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, in a press release issued on Friday, emphasized that the NLC’s primary objective is advocating for effective governance that prioritizes the welfare and security of all Nigerians rather than seeking political positions.
The statement reads, “We find these remarks, particularly those concerning the role of Labour in governance, to be profoundly at variance with the struggles faced by ordinary Nigerians under existing policies.
“President Tinubu’s insinuation that Labour lacks the moral ground to challenge his administration, merely nine months into office, is deeply troubling. Moreover, his focus on partisan issues and the distant 2027 election cycle, rather than the urgent needs of the populace, further underscores a disconnect from the realities faced by Nigerians on a daily basis.
“It is regrettable that the president seems oblivious of the profound hardship endured by millions of Nigerians. The pervasive hunger, unemployment, housing insecurity and escalating cost of basic necessities, such as food and health care, demand immediate attention and decisive action.
“Yet, instead of addressing these pressing concerns, President Tinubu appears preoccupied with political calculations and future electoral prospects.
“The NLC wishes to emphasize that our primary objective is not to vie for political positions, including that of the president; rather, our sole focus is on advocating effective governance that prioritises the welfare and security of all Nigerians.
“We urge President Tinubu to redirect his efforts towards fulfilling this fundamental duty of public office rather than engaging in political rhetoric.
“It is imperative that we refocus our collective energy on addressing the substantive issues that have been the subject of engagement between Labour and the government since June 2023.
“These include critical matters such as wage increases, social welfare programmes, infrastructure development and the revitalisation of key sectors, such as education and health care.
“In any case, to avoid the dissipation of energy, it is important that we focus on the real issues because we have engaged the government since June 2023 after the ‘subsidy is gone’ statement.
