NLC nationwide protest which was planned for Thursday, February 27 and Friday, February 2 has been suspended.
The decision was made by the Congress’s National Executive Council, which met digitally on Tuesday.
The NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, who announced the suspension of demonstrations at a press conference, said the decision was based on the Federal Government’s decision to withdraw the subsidy on gasoline.
He stated that members of the NLC who had been mobilized will be demobilized as a result of the decision to halt the demonstrations.
Prior to the statement, Congress stated on Monday that it will continue to prepare for the demonstrations.
Wabba added that the NLC’s Countrywide Executive Council has issued directions for the mobilization of workers and residents for national rallies if the Federal Government failed to reverse the scheduled increase in fuel pump prices.
However, in defending its decision, the NLC president stated that the planned protests were canceled “due to the government’s reversal and reapproach.”
“At the pinnacle of highly rigorous mobilization of Nigerians by the Nigeria Labour Congress and a host of her civil society friends, the government issued a public declaration yesterday, January 24, 2022, reversing the intentions to hike fuel pump price,” he stated.
“The government’s stance was also publicly transmitted to Congress, with demands for continued dialogue.”
Following the government’s reversal and reapproach, the National Executive Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress convened electronically this morning to evaluate the government’s new position.
“Following robust deliberations, the NEC decided to postpone the planned countrywide demonstration set for January 27, 2022, as well as the national protest slated for February 2, 2022.”
According to the labor leader, the decision has been relayed to the congress’s civil society friends, who have stood steadfastly with Nigerian workers in their struggle for social and economic justice.
The union contended that the anticipated withdrawal of the petrol subsidy would raise the pump price of petrol to between N320 and N340 per liter.
This, it was underlined, would have worsened the country’s inflation, increased poverty, heightened social tensions, and pushed the country and millions of poor individuals to the brink of disaster.
Going ahead, the NLC stated that it will continue to engage with the government on the crucial issues of assuring local refining of petroleum, the development of long-term jobs, and the affordability of gasoline for Nigerian workers and citizens.
It praised the workers, people, and civil society supporters for “unwavering solidarity and support throughout this battle.”
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