Despite warnings by the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Labour Congress said it would not be intimidated into jettisoning it’s planned nation wide strike billed for February 27-28.
The NLC said the federal government had failed to address the rising cost of living in the country. And also has not initiated a dialogue during the 14-day ultimatum given by Labour.
The DSS in a statement signed by its spokesperson Mr. Peter Afunanya, prevailed on the labour unions to shun acts capable of disturbing the peace and public order of the country.
But in counter statement NLC president Joe Ajero said:
“We are unconcerned by the unsolicited advice of the Department of State Security to shelve our planned protest against the unprecedented high cost of living despite 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.
“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.
“We are equally intrigued by the innuendos of the Service, their philosophy of “peace” and wild allegations and we want to reassure them that no one loves this country more than us and on our honour, we would never do anything that will compromise its sovereignty or security.
“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.”
