The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on Nigerians to get ready to join hands with the congress as it begins preparation to build a coalition of all the masses.
The Congress said as it braces for another round of struggle for the emancipation of the people, the citizens can generate the critical number needed to compel the government to listen to the wishes of the people.
President of NLC, Joe Ajaero, said this during the closing ceremony of the Congress’ 2023 Rain School, held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
He said the various outcomes of the training would soon be demonstrated in new deeper and more robust engagements with the social partners, especially as the nation grapples with the increasing threat of neoliberalism and its offshoots, such as the incipient and burgeoning anti-poor, as well as pro-capital policies of the Federal Government.
Ajaero lamented the unacceptable hike in the prices of petroleum products by the government amid the suffering occasioned by the earlier hike of the same product price to N537/litre on May 29.
He said Nigerians were yet to grapple with the shock of the inauguration day price increase when it was again greeted with the announcement of a fresh price hike to N617/litre by the Federal Government.
He said: “To us comrades, this is most unconscionable and a further attempt at emasculating an already suffering and bent Nigerians, who are currently groaning under the yoke of an unbending malevolent group presently occupying the corridors of power.
“We have pointed this out to prepare all of our minds for the battle that awaits all of us as we leave this place. It is on this note that we call on all Nigerians to get ready to join hands with us as we begin preparation to build a coalition of all Nigerian people; from the North to the South and from the East to the West.
“A coalition of the suffering, oppressed, and deprived where everyone will be a leader and everyone will be a follower. Hunger and poverty transcend ethnic and religious boundaries and it is our collective and indeed civic duty to save ourselves and our nation from the clutches of these mindless policies.”
He said the earlier nationwide action was sabotaged by an abnormal injunction procured and served on the Congress in unholy circumstances from the courts by the government.
“Whether this antics of manipulating the courts to sabotage our collective resolve will work this time is going to be left in the hands of Nigerians and the seriousness with which they see the imminent peril which our lives are being subjected to. That is why we want Nigerian workers and Nigerian people to blame all our present sufferings, hardships, and underdevelopment on the courts,” he said.
The Guardian
