The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has strongly criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his recent comments, accusing him of being disconnected from the daily realities faced by Nigerians.
In response to Tinubu’s remarks during the commissioning of the Lagos railway red line project, where he questioned the moral ground of the organized labour to challenge his administration’s policies, the NLC urged the president to prioritize addressing the ongoing hardships faced by citizens.
The NLC, through its president, Joe Ajaero, expressed deep concern over Tinubu’s focus on partisan issues and future elections rather than the pressing needs of the populace.
Ajaero emphasized that the NLC’s primary objective is advocating for effective governance that prioritizes the welfare and security of all Nigerians rather than seeking political positions.
Ajaero urged Tinubu to redirect his efforts toward fulfilling the fundamental duty of public office, addressing substantive issues under discussion since June 2023, including wage increases, social welfare programs, infrastructure development, and the revitalization of critical 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.
