The Nigeria Labour Congress, has rejected the security advisory by the Department of State Services, urging the union to shelve its planned nationwide protest.
Recall that INFORMATION NIGERIA had earlier reported that the secret police had counseled NLC to rescind its decision, saying the plea was in the interest of the country.
However, the president of the union, Joe Ajaero, while reacting to the DSS’ warning, said that the security agency should not blackmail the organised labour.
Ajaero assured that the protest would be peaceful, urging the service to fish out any individual or group planning to hijack the process.
He said: “We are concerned by the unsolicited advice of the Department of State Security to shelve our planned protest against the unprecedented high cost of living in spite of the indescribable suffering in the land, spiralling inflation, deepening poverty and the Naira at an exchange rate of N1,900 to the US Dollar.
“According to the Service, the planned protest should be shelved “in the interest of peace and public order”, pre-supposing that the action is intended to be violent and disruptive even when we have a history of peaceful protests.
“More worrying is the new role the Service has assigned to itself, the chief spokesperson of the government.
“According to the Service, “It is common knowledge that all levels of Government are striving to ameliorate the prevailing economic condition and as such, should be given a benefit of the doubt, So far, appropriate authorities are working assiduously with a spectrum of stakeholders to fashion out modalities to address the current difficulties”.
“We are equally worried that although the “Service is aware that some elements are planning to use the opportunity of the protest to foment crisis and by extension, widespread violence”, and yet have not executed the arrest of these elements.
“Having said this, we would not have ourselves blackmailed or lied against by the Service. Our protest is a peaceful one against the unpardonable cost of living of which the unserviced personnel of the Service are also victims. We cannot fold our hands and pretend all is well. That will be a grievous conspiracy that history will not forgive.”
