In a bold move, the United Action Front of the Civil Society, a coalition of citizen groups and prominent civil society leaders, has issued a stern warning to President Bola Tinubu, asserting that there may not be a 2027 for Nigeria if urgent action is not taken to address the growing hardship experienced by Nigerians.
The statement comes in response to President Tinubu’s negative comments on the nationwide mass protest initiated by the Nigeria Labour Congress, where he asserted that if Labour is interested in the electoral process, they should meet him in 2027, emphasising that Labour is not the sole voice of the people.
In Tinubu’s words, “If you want to participate in the electoral process, wait until 2027; if not, then make peace. You are not the only voice of Nigerians.” The President also said, “The Labour Unions should understand that no matter how much we cling to our freedom and rights, we cannot form a strike within nine months of an administration. It is unacceptable.”
The civil society coalition took issue with Tinubu’s statement, branding it as delusional and malicious against what they referred to as a “pro-people labour movement operating in the open society of Nigeria.” Their central demand is for President Tinubu to address the pressing issues of unbearable hunger and hardship faced by Nigerians promptly.
“Our well-considered position on this matter is that the way things are today in the country,” the group said, “if nothing drastic is done to stem the tide, the masses of the Nigerian people will have no choice but be forced to storm and occupy the Aso Presidential Villa and all other Government Houses in Nigeria within the next few weeks, especially if the hunger and hardship in the country is allowed to persist and fester to the extent there may not be that 2027, which Tinubu and his co-travellers savour so much and hope for.”
In a press release issued in Lagos on Thursday, 29 February 2024, the civil society coalition urged the government to consider the urgency of the situation. They expressed concern that the persistence and escalation of hunger and hardship could jeopardise the envisioned 2027 that President Tinubu and his associates anticipate.
The spokesperson for the United Action Front of the Civil Society, Mallam Hamisu San Turaki, cautioned the Tinubu government not to perceive organised bodies like the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) as enemies or politically motivated entities challenging economic policies. Instead, they should be viewed as sincere partners in progress, providing a peaceful and organised voice to the pervasive anger and disenchantment in the nation.
The statement concluded with a strong plea for the government to commend and encourage organised bodies within the open society of Nigeria, recognising that alternative voices, if not given an outlet, could manifest in more disruptive and ruthless forms.
President Bola Tinubu’s statement followed a recent protest by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) over the high cost of living. The NLC, despite initially planning a two-day protest, suspended it after the first day due to its perceived impact. However, the NLC is still threatening a strike if the government doesn’t address its concerns, initially raised in a 14-day nationwide strike notice on February 8.
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