The presidency has accused the Nigeria Labour Congress of taking advantage of economic hardships and widespread hunger to stage protests to further their “political agenda.”

Ajuri Ngelale, a spokesperson for the president, made this statement in an interview with TVC on Monday night.

“Any labour union that is speaking to the concerns of Nigerian families, the pains that are being felt by our people, is absolutely free to do so. It is right that Nigerians speak up in difficult situations,” Mr Ajuri said.

He added, “The government has been doing everything possible to alleviate those concerns. But we also want to separate the legitimate concerns being expressed by some of the labour unions from people trying to leverage some of the situations in the country to achieve a political agenda.”

Mr Ngelale accused the NLC of pushing a political agenda with the nationwide protest, arguing that other unions have withdrawn from the planned protests, seeing the government is taking actions to meet their demands. 

“We have seen the Trade Union Congress (TUC) pull out of the purported nationwide protest. We have seen the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) pull out of the protests. 

“There is no unanimity behind what NLC is trying to do. I believe all of the legitimate concerns being raised by the unions are being tackled by the administration of President Bola Tinubu,” Mr Ajuri said.

Before now, the NLC had said the Labour Party belongs to it and plans to meet elected party candidates to discuss its programmes. 

Mr Ajuri’s statement came in the wake of NLC’s two-day nationwide protest over the rising cost of living, inflation and insecurity in the country. 

The NLC commenced the protest in Abuja on Tuesday despite a warning to shun the protest by the State Security Service. 

Two weeks ago, Joe Ajaero, the NLC’s president, expressed the congress’ dissatisfaction with Mr Tinubu’s intervention amid soaring food prices occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy last year.