Shelve Planned Protest, Ajaka Begs Labour

Social Democratic Party (SDP) gubernatorial candidate for last year’s Kogi State governorship election, Yakubu Murtala Ajaka, has advised the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) against embarking on their proposed national strike slated for Monday and Tuesday.

According to him, the decision to go on strike if not revisited, could trigger precipitous consequences in the forms of exacerbation of the current quagmire and an escalation of criminality and attendant insecurity which are predictable recipes for the breakdown of civil order.

Ajaka in a statement released in Abuja yesterday urged the unions to give the government of President Bola Tinubu the benefit of trust at least till May 29, 2024 when his administration would be one calendar year post inauguration.

He admitted that there is invasive poverty owing basically to the speedy escalation of prices of essential commodities like foodstuffs and necessities as well as the cost of services due to a systemic institutional adjustment by the government, geared towards revamping Nigeria’s economy.

“I dutifully join other patriots in identifying with the concerns of fellow Nigerians over the prevailing economic hardship in our dear country; and also to offer counsel to the Organised Labour Movement led by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) against embarking on their proposed national strike.

“The decision to go on strike if not revisited, could trigger precipitous consequences in the forms of exacerbation of the current quagmire and an escalation of criminality and attendant insecurity which are predictable recipes for the breakdown of civil order.

“Evidently, there is no denying the fact of invasive poverty owing basically to the speedy escalation of prices of essential commodities like foodstuffs and necessaries as well as the cost of services. This is due to systemic institutional adjustments by the government that are geared towards revamping our abyss-bound economy. It is a global experience that the pain we confront now is the immediate shock that logically attends such redemptive economic policies.

“Truly, all Nigerians including my humble self are groaning under the excruciating torment of this harsh existential reality but on the flip side, it is a call to patriotic understanding so that our reactions do not undermine the unity and security of the country.

“I therefore plead with Organised Labour to exercise exemplary patience, demobilise their members from the imminent industrial action and grant the government the benefit of trust at least till the 29th of May, 2024 when this administration would be one calendar year post inauguration. This I seek in the national interest,” he said.