NLC will continue to stand against unfavorable policies – Ajaero

President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has said the Union would continue to stand against unfavorable policies of the government or private sector.

Ajaero said that NLC, being the single largest organisation in Africa, would always stand in defence of Nigerians.

He made these remarks in Abuja when he hosted in his office, Mr James Mike, a civil rights activist, popularly known as “Flagboyng.”

The NLC President also said the Union is a highly patriotic organisation considering the type of work and advocacy it does.

“We are there for Nigerians but the people you are talking for have not recovered their consciousness.

“If I make a statement tomorrow, some will tell you he is from this tribe or that he is for party A or B, and at the end of the day the person is hungry.

“A hungry stomach does not know where someone comes from, but we are here for the people.”

“You see people carrying their handsets for one year without recharging them and you see students who rely on data to perform their activities, and their parents are not working.

“Again, when you are writing a CBT exam and your data finishes, you have automatically failed that exam; these are the people the increment will affect most and they are not speaking out.

“Remember, people were saying we compromised when we called off the protest against tariff increase; the same people you fight for will criticise you.

“What is guiding us is the passion and love of the country and we have taken our struggle to a social dimension; it is no longer protest for sacking workers, among others” Ajaero said.

According to Ajaero, the NLC’s position on the proposed telecom tariff increment is that there cannot be an increase without the people.

“This is the first time in the history of the labour movement that an increase in tariff will be challenged, be it electricity or telecom tariff, and this is because of the sufferings of Nigerians.

“It is no longer the fight about minimum wage because the current realities do not allow Nigerian workers to enjoy the minimum wage.

“What is guiding us is the passion and love of the country and we have taken our struggle to a social dimension; it is no longer protest for sacking workers, among others” Ajaero said.

He regretted that the same people NLC fought for were usually used to fight or criticise it.