The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) strongly criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his recent comments, accusing him of being out of touch with the daily struggles faced by Nigerians.
In response to Tinubu’s remarks during the commissioning of the Lagos railway red line project, where he questioned the moral authority of organized labor to challenge his administration’s policies, the NLC urged the president to focus on addressing the ongoing difficulties experienced by citizens.
The NLC, led by its president, Joe Ajaero, expressed serious concerns about Tinubu’s emphasis on political matters and future elections rather than the immediate needs of the people.
Ajaero stressed that the NLC’s main goal is to advocate for good governance that prioritizes the well-being and safety of all Nigerians, rather than pursuing political ambitions.
Ajaero called on Tinubu to shift his focus towards fulfilling the core responsibilities of public office, addressing important issues that have been discussed since June 2023, such as salary increases, social welfare programs, infrastructure development, and the improvement of key sectors like education and healthcare.
Ajaero said: “It is regrettable that the president seems oblivious of the profound hardship endured by millions of Nigerians. The pervasive hunger, unemployment, housing insecurity and escalating cost of basic necessities, such as food and health care, demand immediate attention and decisive action.
“Yet, instead of addressing these pressing concerns, President Tinubu appears preoccupied with political calculations and future electoral prospects.
“The NLC wishes to emphasize that our primary objective is not to vie for political positions, including that of the president; rather, our sole focus is on advocating effective governance that prioritises the welfare and security of all Nigerians.
“We urge President Tinubu to redirect his efforts towards fulfilling this fundamental duty of public office rather than engaging in political rhetoric.
“It is imperative that we refocus our collective energy on addressing the substantive issues that have been the subject of engagement between Labour and the government since June 2023.
“These include critical matters such as wage increases, social welfare programmes, infrastructure development and the revitalisation of key sectors, such as education and health care.
“In any case, to avoid the dissipation of energy, it is important that we focus on the real issues because we have engaged the government since June 2023 after the ‘subsidy is gone’ statement.
