Protest: We’re Worried Of Govt. Spokesperson Role DSS Assigned Itself – NLC Says

…Says, history will not forgive labour if…

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), on Wednesday expressed misgivings on the new role the Department of State Service (DSS) has assigned to itself as the chief spokesperson of the government.

The NLC said that its members cannot fold their hands and pretend all is well, stressing that it would be a grievous conspiracy that history will not forgive.

The Organised Labour therefore declared that it would not have itself blackmailed or lied against by the DSS, adding that its protest is a peaceful one against the unpardonable cost of living of which the unserviced personnel of the Service are also victims.

It also said that the Organised Labour is greatly worried that even though the Service was aware that some elements are planning to use the opportunity of the protest to foment crisis and by extension, widespread violence, but failed to arrest the elements.

This was as the NLC expressed concerned over what it described as the “unsolicited advice” of the Service urging the organised labour to shelve its planned protest against the unprecedented high cost of living in spite of the indescribable suffering in the land, spiralling inflation, deepening poverty and the Naira at an exchange rate of N1,900 to the US Dollar.

The NLC in a statement by its President, Comrade Joe Ajaero noted that the DSS advised that the planned protest should be shelved “in the interest of peace and public order”, saying that the Secret police pre-supposed that the organised Labour action is intended to be violent and disruptive even when they have a history of peaceful protests.

In the words of the NLC President; “According to the Service, it is common knowledge that all levels of Government are striving to ameliorate the prevailing economic condition and as such, should be given a benefit of the doubt, So far, appropriate authorities are working assiduously with a spectrum of stakeholders to fashion out modalities to address the current difficulties.

“We are equally intrigued by the innuendos of the Service, their philosophy of “peace” and wild allegations and we want to reassure them that no one loves this country more than us and on our honour, we would never do anything that will compromise its sovereignty or security.