Civil society organisations under the aegis of Lagos Peoples Assembly in conjunction with Defend Lagos Coalition has appealed to the leadership of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to further engage the federal government in dialogue to resolve the disagreement over the solutions to the economic hardship in the country rather than protesting.
Addressing the press in Lagos, the spokesperson of the CSO groups, Nelson Ekujumi, in company of other leaders, Gbenga Soloki, Dayo Ogunlana, Ajayi Popoola said going on mass protest would worsen the situation in the country.
The NLC had decided to embark on mass protest between February 27 and 28, 2024 to press home its demand from the Federal Government.
The CSOs which comprised over 80 civil society groups and community-based organisations stated that NLC had alternative means it can use to make the government do its bidding, pointing out that mass protest remained the last option and therefore advised the NLC to explore dialogue before settling for protest.
They said economic hardship experienced in Nigeria is not limited to Nigeria, adding that it is experienced globally and would soon fizzle out.
Ekujumi said going on strike would add to the burden of Nigerians, because hoodlums may hijack it to bring hardship and mayhem to Nigerians, adding that Lagos State is yet to recover from the losses it suffered during the EndSARS protest and it won’t like to plunge Lagosians to another suffering.
“While we recognize the right of the labour unions to embark on protest or strike, as conscientious citizens and residents of Lagos, we are conscious that Labour as a factor of production creates wealth which is the motto of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and going on a protest march at this point in time will be injurious to the economic wellbeing of Lagosians, Nigerians and a negation of what labour stands for.’’