Just few days to the commencement of the planned two-day nationwide protest, the Trade Union Congress has backed out leaving only Nigeria Labour Congress as the only union still insisting on going with it.
Initial report indicated that both unions planned two-day nationwide protest following the high cost of living, inflation, insecurity, and hardship in the country.
However, the Vice-President of the TUC, Tommy Etim, told journalists on Wednesday that the decision to protest on February 27 and 28 as announced by the NLC was not taken collectively by both unions.
The TUC in a letter dated February 19, 2024, written by its Secretary General, Dr Nuhu Toro, said the NLC unilaterally took the decision on the planned protest.
Etim in the interview with journalists confirmed the letter addressed to the NLC President, Mr Joe Ajaero, adding that “by the virtue of the letter, there is no way we can join the protest.”
Recall that the NLC had on February 16 declared a two-day protest which would begin after the expiration of the 14-day ultimatum it issued to the Federal Government expected to expire on February 22 (today).
The warning was on account of the alleged failure of the government to implement the agreements reached on October 2, following the removal of the fuel subsidy and other economic reforms which had triggered higher transportation costs, inflation, and general hardship.
The situation had provoked protests across the country with youths, and women taking to the streets over the food inflation and higher cost of living.
The NLC and TUC earlier on February 8 gave a two-week ultimatum to the government to meet demands ranging from wage increments to improved access to public utilities and accused it of failing to uphold pledges to soften the impact of reforms.
Briefing journalists in Abuja after an emergency National Executive Council meeting on the state of the economy and matters related to insecurity in the country, the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, also accused the Federal Government of failing to implement the agreement reached in October.
On Monday, the Head of Information of the NLC, Benson Upah, said the NLC affiliates were being mobilised for the protest just as state chapters of the congress vowed to join the nationwide demonstration.
The NLC is expected to give updates on the proposed two day warning strike any moment from now.
