COVID-19: NLC Writes Buhari, Kicks Against Lockdown Extension

BY VICTOR BUORO, BUJA – The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has declared that as much as it is important to keep Nigerians from dying in the hands of Coronavirus, it must be understood that loss of income and the accompanying destitution can also be a pathfinder for numerous other sicknesses and deaths.

The NLC therefore stressed that this is the time to play the balancing game as against just lockdown of the country.

Accordingly, the Labour movement advised President Muhammadu Buhari against further extension of lockdown, saying that the policy has not in any way reduced cases of Coronavirus disease in the country.

These were contained in a letter to President Buhari by the NLC in which it stressed that there would likely be social unrest if the current lockdown imposed on some states is further extended.

The NLC’’s letter which was signed by its President, Mr. Ayuba Wabba, therefore appealed to Buhari to take the welfare ad security of Nigerians into consideration before taking any decision on the matter.

NLC said that Nigeria’s economy might relapse into prolonged coma if the lockdown is extended beyond April 27, 2020.

According to the NLC President; “While we understand the public health imperatives for extending the lockdown in some parts of the country, it is also very important to underscore the fact that the states currently under total lockdown are the economic and administrative nerve centres of Nigeria.

“The prolonged lockdowns are best effective in the short-term, while with the medium to long-term, the human instinct to survive would kick in and restraint might lead to the collapse of law and order.

“No one is sure how long this dam would hold. We fear that the situation will get out of hand if the lockdown exceeds one month. Beyond the threat of COVID-19 to health and life, there are also very real threats to livelihood.

“Jobs are under threat. Many employees are finding it difficult to source money to keep workers at work and sustain the production lines. It has been projected that the socio-economic impact of COVID-19 would ripple on, at least, for the next two years,” NLC stressed.