Presidency to NLC, TUC: Appreciate Democratic Freedoms, We’re Not in Military Regime

The administration has emphasised that the demands made by organised labour are unrealistic and that they should be grateful that Nigeria is not governed by the military.

The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) have a great deal of freedom because there is no military rule in Nigeria, according to President Bola Tinubu’s Special Advisor on Information and Strategy.

Onanuga, who appeared on TVC, stated that in order to impose the nationwide strike, labour should not have shut down the national grid and airports.

Organised labour went on strike on Monday in an effort to get a better compensation package.

But once the Nigerian government and labour agreed to raise the minimum wage and carry on with more talks, the strike was called off.

The government offered N60,000, while labour wanted N494,000; nevertheless, the terms of the agreement may require the latter to pay anything from N60,000 to N100,000.

Onanuga, however, pleaded with labourers to temper their demands.

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Labour should see itself as a collaborator with the federal government rather than as its enemy, according to Onanuga.

“Workers should give God praise for not living under a military dictatorship. We live in a democratic society where speech is freely permitted.

“I believe that by turning off the national grid, Labour went too far. That conduct seems excessive to me at a time when we are whining about not having enough power. It is not your place to close the airports to other people. Participation in the strike must be voluntary.

“I’ll make an appeal to labour to respond more responsibly. They are not entitled to what they are requesting. It’s not realistic.