According to a news report from News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Kwara State has called on its affiliate unions to distance themselves from the nationwide protests scheduled to begin on 1 August, citing concerns that violent elements could hijack the protests.

The NLC made this announcement on Tuesday, stating it would not participate in the protests being organised by some Nigerians in response to hardship and poor governance in the country.

In a statement signed by its Chairman and Secretary, Muritala Olayinka and Isiah Eigege respectively, the NLC expressed regret over the state of the Nigerian economy. The union urged the government to engage in dialogue with the protest organisers to address the nation's challenges.

The NLC also conveyed its willingness to mediate between the public and the government to promote restraint. It encouraged protesters to seek alternative means of engaging the government, particularly through round table negotiations, rather than resorting to planned protests.

“We note with deep concern the public outcry about the devastating hardship in Nigeria.

“We are also obsessed with the anticipated consequences of the protest which may be exacerbated or degenerated by unscrupulous group of people who do not mean well for Nigeria.

“The people of Kwara State are known as peaceful group of people. We pray that the peace should not erode us this time,” the statement emphasized.

It said that protest is a fundamental right of people under the Constitution but development can only be guaranteed under a peaceful atmosphere.

The statement asserts that the NLC, as an umbrella body of all the workers in the country, has a progressive record which is evident in its years of struggle for the welfare of Nigerian workers.

“We have listened to the people's indignation in the recent days, which is caused by the socio-economic hardship in the country.

“We have also resolved to mediate between the masses and the government with a view to achieving restraint in order to find an alternative means of engaging the government rather than the planned protest.

“It is in light of above that we call on government to reach out to the organizers of the protest for a dialogue to address the challenges of the moment,” the statement announced.

It says Kwara NLC is not the organizer of the protest and is not going to be part of it.

“In a similar way, we urge our affiliate unions to dissociate themselves from the planned protest as fear of the protest being hijacked by hoodlums is central in our mind as organized labour,” the statement said.

(NAN)