The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Joe Ajaero, has urged President Bola Tinubu to dialogue with the leaders of groups planning to protest against the prevailing hardship in the country.
Ajaero stated that protesting is a right of citizens, and millions of Nigerians are angry about the state of the national economy.
In a statement released on Monday, Ajaero highlighted the severity of the economic situation, citing statistics from the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, and the International Rescue Committee, IRC.
He emphasized that many Nigerian families are struggling to eat one meal a day, and millions are living below extreme poverty lines.
Ajaero expressed concern about the government’s response to the protests, stating that describing citizens’ struggles as “sponsored political dissent” is condescending and dismissive.
He emphasised that citizens demand a listening ear and an empathetic heart from their government.
The NLC President stressed that during these difficult times, the right of Nigerians to complain must be respected.