President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has tacked the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), saying it is unacceptable for the unions to call for a strike within the first nine months of an administration.
He spoke at the commissioning of the Lagos Red Line Train connecting from Agbado to Oyingbo on Thursday.
The NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) had, on February 8, issued a 14-day nationwide strike notice to the Federal Government of Nigeria over the failure to implement the agreements reached on October 2 following the removal of fuel subsidy.
However, as Nigerians continued to deal with economic hardship, the union decided to embark on a two-day nationwide protest to press home their demands.
Despite a security advisory by the Department of State Services, DSS, the union kick-started the protest on Monday in many cities across Nigeria.
However, the National Executive Council of the NLC, suspended its nationwide protest for day two on Tuesday, after reviewing the initial day as highly impactful.
Speaking during the commissioning of the Red Line Rail Mass Transit project in Lagos, Tinubu expressed his disapproval of the protests, stating that holding protests within nine months of his administration was “unacceptable.”
Tinubu seemingly downplayed the NLC’s right to protest and implied that the NLC’s actions were politically motivated.
He added that if NLC intended to engage in political activism, they should wait until the 2027 elections to choose a new president.
He said, “Allow me to throw a jab here. The Labour Union should understand that you are not the only with freedom and rights.
“If you want to participate in the electoral process, meet us in 2027. If not maintain peace. You are not only voice of Nigeria.”
While acknowledging the current hardships, Tinubu stated that there was no going back on his reforms despite resistance by those he called ‘smugglers’.
He also reiterated that corruption is fighting back and vowed that the government would exterminate corruption.
Tinubu said the current hardship occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy and the unification of the exchange rate is temporary, begging Nigerians to persevere.
“There is very bright light at the end of the tunnel. Nigeria will be out of economic problem, we just need to persevere and work hard,” the President declared.
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