The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has clarified that it is not behind the planned nationwide hunger protest scheduled for August 1.
The NLC’s statement comes in response to rumors suggesting it had withdrawn from the protest organized by youth groups.
In a statement released on Wednesday, NLC President Comrade Joe Ajaero emphasized that the Congress cannot withdraw from an event it did not organize. He urged both federal and state governments to heed the urgent appeals from Nigerians struggling with economic hardship.
The statement, titled “The Nigeria Labour Congress cannot withdraw from a protest that it did not organise,” read in part:
“We have been made aware of news reports claiming that the Nigeria Labour Congress has withdrawn from the upcoming national protest. This claim is entirely false. As the NLC did not organize the protest, we cannot withdraw from it. Only the event’s organizers have the authority to decide whether to continue or cancel it.
“Although we are not the organizers, the NLC is acutely aware of the severe living conditions faced by Nigerians due to the government’s harsh economic policies. We stand in solidarity with the people during these difficult times.
“In light of this, we have urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to engage with the protest organizers to discuss their demands. We advise against the use of force to address the widespread discontent and stress that the government should listen to the people’s grievances and act accordingly.”
The protest is planned against the backdrop of rising food prices and inflation. According to a recent report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), prices for essential food items have surged significantly. For instance, the price of 1kg of brown beans increased by 252.13% from ₦651.12 in June 2023 to ₦2,292.76 in June 2024. Similarly, the price of tomatoes rose by 320.67% year-on-year, and the cost of Irish potatoes and white Garri saw increases of 288.50% and 181.66%, respectively.
The NBS report also highlighted regional price disparities, with the highest average prices for various food items recorded in different states across Nigeria. For instance, Lagos had the highest average price for 1kg of yam tuber, while Abuja recorded the highest for tomatoes.
In response to the rising food prices, the federal government has approved a 150-day duty-free import window for certain food commodities to alleviate the crisis and ensure food security.
President Bola Tinubu has appealed to Nigerians to postpone the planned ‘EndBadGovernance’ protest, as the government works to address the economic challenges. On Wednesday, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, and the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, held a closed-door meeting with ministers to discuss the protest.
Information Minister Mohammed Idris, who briefed the media after the meeting, urged Nigerians to give the government more time to resolve the issues and assured that efforts are being made to address the economic difficulties affecting the country.
