The President of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alh. Ibikunle Tajudeen Baruwa, has appealed to Nigerians and members of the union across the country to shun the planned nationwide protest against hardship scheduled to commence on August 1.
Baruwa urged the organisers of the protest to explore alternative channels for dialogue and engagement with the government in the interest of peace and harmony.
He made the appeal in a statement he personally signed and made available to journalists on Wednesday in Abuja.
He expressed fear and concerns that the protest may lead to unintended consequences such as escalating tensions and conflict, disruption of essential services and economic activities and potential harm to innocent citizens and property.
Baruwa, while acknowledging the current economic hardship in the country, said protest at this time may not be the most effective way to address the issues.
The statement read, “The President of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alh. Ibikunle Baruwa wishes to use this medium to appeal to the organizers of the nationwide protest scheduled to commence from August 1st 2024 to kindly reconsider their plans and shelve the upcoming protest in the overall interest of our dear country.
“The President equally directed all members of the union across the country to shun any protest at this critical period.
“While we understand and share the concerns of the intended protesters about the current state of affairs, we believe that a protest at this time may not be the most effective way to address these issues.
“We acknowledge the frustrations and grievances that have led to this planned protest. However, we are concerned that the protest may lead to unintended consequences such as ;
Escalating tensions and conflict, disruption of essential services and economic activities and potential harm to Innocent citizens and property.
“We are instead proposing exploring alternative channels for dialogue and engagement with the government, such as: Constructive discussions and negotiations, collaborative problem-solving initiatives and peaceful and respectful advocacy campaigns.
“We sincerely believe that these approaches can lead to more meaningful and sustainable solutions. We therefore urge all Nigerians to prioritize peace, unity, and progress, considering the fact that President Tinubu has promised to address all the challenges listed by the organizers of the proposed protest.”
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