Hardship: TUC insists on not joining national protest

Voice Air Media, VAM News Update

President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Festus Osifo, says members of the Congress will not join the nationwide protest because the Congress was not part of the plan.

Osifo, at a press briefing, said the union would rather engage the government further to find solutions to the hardship being faced by Nigerians than going to the streets.

Daily Trust reports that the President of Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, last week told journalists that the Congress would be embarking on a two-day nationwide protest to press their demands.

Ajaero had insisted that the labour movement would not back down on its planned action despite a series of warnings from the Department of State Services (DSS), Police and the Attorney General of the Federation.

But speaking at the briefing, Osifo explained that the TUC was originally not part of the plan, and as such, it would present a fresh 15-point way forwards to the government rather than taking over the streets.

“There is no point saying we’re opting out a process we were not originally part of initially. We are going to present the way forward we’ve highlighted to the government not through protest,” Osifo said while reacting to Daily Trust’s inquiry.