As the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC begins to protest in the country over economic hardship, a coalition of civil society leaders and groups, named The Labour-Civil Society Front, has declared its support for Tuesday’s mass protest by the Labour Union.
The Group, while endorsing the protest, said the soul of the movement is to ensure that anti-people and anti-poor policies of the federal government are reversed.
The coalition said the country is faced with dehumanising and disempowering state policies, which must be addressed as a matter of National Emergency.
The civil society leaders stated this, in a press statement, jointly signed by the national spokesperson, Labour – Civil Society Front (LCSF), Comrade (Amb) Nkoyo Toyo; spokesperson, United Action Front of Civil Society, Mallam Hamisu San Turaki; and convener, Country First Movement, Prof Chris Mustapha Nwaokobia Jnr.
They called for the “unmitigated sufferings and impoverishment of Nigerians forced by the mindless implementation of dehumanizing economic policies of governments at both national and subnational levels of the country” and urged their members and allies throughout the country to join and fully participate in the nonviolent national protest.
In addition, the statement said, “we have not discriminated based on political affiliation, ethnic or religious sentiments in our decision to once again support organized labour on this mass action, as hunger, deteriorating health, or planned deaths are ravaging Nigerian citizens.”
The civil society group further listed their demands to include: “The general insecurity of lives and properties of Nigerians that has led to many untimely and avoidable deaths.
“The abject poverty and pauperisation of everyday Nigerians and the associated sufferings and hunger ravaging the country.
“The pervading crimes and kidnappings for ransom have forced farmers to abandon their sources of livelihood thereby triggering food insecurity and hopelessness.
“The crash of the value of the Naira almost made it worthless and led to the escalating cost of everyday necessities amid mind-boggling youth unemployment.
“The unethical increase in school fees and the non-fulfilment of student loans, both forcing children of the poor out of public schools and further complicating their future.
“The extremely high cost of healthcare services and drugs has further deprived families of the quality of health needed.
“It is regrettable to watch the speedy decline of health capabilities in Nigeria and the growing numbers of Nigerians who have been forced to resort to alternative medicine or resign to fate.
“It is the right of Nigerians to protest and be protected as citizens while protesting peacefully, as envisaged by the Nigerian constitution,” they said, urging President Bola Tinubu to stop the avoidable slide.
They then implored that he act in the overarching interest of the masses by listening to their demands and taking immediate positive actions that go beyond countless unpredictable cosmetic palliatives to its primary obligation to protect lives and property and ensure the welfare and wellbeing of all citizens.
State policies that dehumanize and disempower people are what the nation is currently dealing with, and they need to be handled as a national emergency. As a result, we request that the Inspector General of Police, by section 83(4) of the Police Act, provide protection for this.
“We trust that taking a cue from there, the DSS will also provide credible and useful information to the government as this will work to ensure the good governance of Nigeria instead of throwing up panicky propaganda.
“We also wish to alert the country that some amorphous groups and state agents masquerading as civil society coalitions have emerged to draw attention to themselves for pecuniary gains.
“However, as far as the best traditions of civil society organizations and youth networks are concerned, we in the mainstream of the Nigerian civil society and its Leadership are not bothered.
“We are not affected by those making loose assertions of withdrawal from a protest they were not part of initiating, as they and their agenda will fritter away after this season of hunger and despondency.
“In conclusion, we are confident that our widespread protest will force a much-needed national dialogue aimed at establishing a framework for enhancing the appalling welfare and well-being of Nigerians. This dialogue needs to involve the people, not the government interacting through its proxies,” they declared.
