Nigerian Youths Reject NLC’s Planned Protest

The National Youth Council of Nigeria, NYCN, has rejected the planned protest by the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, and Trade Union Congress, TUC, across the country.

The labour unions had fixed Monday, September 28, for the nationwide mass action over the recent increase in petrol pump price and electricity tariff.

Addressing newsmen on Thursday in Abuja, the NYCN President, Solomon Adodo, said the planned protest was only for selfish, political reasons and not in the interest of Nigerians.

The council alleged that top officials of the labour unions have already been compromised and financially induced by a former Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar and some PDP Governors.

According to Mr Adodo, the move was aimed at frustrating reforms in the Petroleum sector and score political points.

Mr Adodo argued that the unions are aware that subsidy was withdrawn months ago, when the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Group Managing Director, Mele Kyari, announced that program was gone forever.

“So, it is surprising and hypocritical that they are now trying to blackmail the Federal Government and advance unfounded arguments.

“This gives clear credence to the fact that the Labour Unions have been seriously compromised to score political points.

“If the NLC and TUC did not see the need to argue over the withdrawal of subsidy some months ago, simply because the prices were lowered, it will amount to hypocrisy to start a threat of strike now that the economic reality of a global oil market is before us.

“It is a show of inconsistency and lack of understanding of the implication of converging economic issues.

“This is no more an agitation for the improved welfare of the masses but a serious attempt to subvert the government for political purposes,” he said.

The president further commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the total deregulation of the petroleum industry stating that the hope for the youth lies there.

“We therefore invite the organised labour to join us in the crusade to free the country from the ills of a strangled regulated petroleum industry.

“We also advise our father Alh. Atiku Abubakar and all other opposition political leaders to partner with and support the Nigerian government to build a great nation at this trying time in our nation’s odyssey.

“Nigeria will turn sixty in a few days and chaos is certainly not a gift any Patriot should wish on her nation. What we have before us is a challenge.