- Says It Is Unacceptable To Judge My Government In Nine Months
- Challenges Labour To Meet Him At The Polls In 2027 Or Maintain Peace
- Reiterates No Going Back On Reforms Instituted By His Administration
- President Arrives Qatar For Investment Forum After Inaugurating Monumental Red Rail Line Project In Lagos
For engaging in a strike action within nine months of his administration, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has condemned organized labour composed of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) of playing politics with the situation in the country.
The President further took a jibe at Labour Unions in the country, saying they should maintain peace as they are not the only voice agitating in Nigeria.
The Matrix reports that organized labour on Tuesday embarked on protests across the country over the economic hardship faced by most Nigerians.
In October 2023, organized labour had grounded all economic activities in the country to protest the reforms instituted by the president.
In preparation for the longer strike, the union first staged a two-day nationwide warning strike on September 5 and 6, 2023.
Reacting to these developments, the president said no matter how much labour unions’ claim to their freedom and rights, engaging in four strikes within nine months of any administration was unacceptable.
The president spoke in Lagos at the unveiling of the first phase of the Lagos Red Line Rail project in Ikeja.
He added that if the unions wanted to participate in the electoral process, they should wait till 2027.
“Let me take a jibe at the labour unions, no matter how much we claim our freedom and right, four strikes within nine months of an administration is unacceptable.
“If you want to participate in the electoral process wait till 2027, if not maintain peace, you are not the only voice in Nigeria,” he said.
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The President also used the occasion to address Nigerians, pledging that things will get better.
He said, “I speak to Nigerians through this podium that change is possible, and change we must achieve. Progress we must achieve. It is not about a single individual. It is about the highest growing population in the world.”
For the President, the growing population also means the country cannot afford to relax as it must plan for the future.
“We must be committed to great value,” he said, “And this economy, we will grow it, we will feed ourselves out of the penury and we will be happy that we did it.
He also pledged that his administration would tackle corruption in the country, regardless of the fightback from beneficiaries.
“We hear lots of noise right now, I asked for this job, I cannot complain. For this revolution that is starting, this reform that is ongoing, we are not looking back. It is the affirmation of our pledge to be loyal to our country, there is a bright light under the tunnel.
“I agree (that) smugglers will fight back; corruption will fight back. We will fight them to ruins. Corruption will go away, (we will) save the money for you to educate our children, to pay for the healthcare system of our people, to pay for the modern transportation system that works for the highest number of people, not those few smugglers.”
“We must exterminate corruption, no matter how hard it is fighting back, we must adhere to our pledge, perseverance, consistency and staying focus.”
Earlier, Tinubu, while unveiling the 27 km first phase of the rail project stretching from Agbado in Ogun State to the iconic National Theatre in Iganmu, in Ikeja, commended the Lagos Area Metropolitan Transport Authority (LAMATA) and the Lagos State Government for such a massive project.
Tinubu said “We are gathered for the inauguration of the second of the 6th rail line projects and I thank our political leaders here for being believing in us and lifting our spirit, we said we can do it and you believed in us, we said the people’s life will end up being better, you believed in us.
He said what LAMATA and the Lagos State Government had done is a strong reminder that that true change is possible and “change we must achieve, progress we must achieve, it is not about single individual, we have huge population in the world, we cannot afford to relax, the burgeoning population, we must plan and prepare for it and this economy, we will grow it and we will feed ourselves out of the penury and we will be happy we did it.
Meanwhile, President Tinubu has arrived in Doha, Qatar on an official visit to the Middle East country.
Tinubu, who left Lagos after inaugurating the Lagos Red Line on Thursday afternoon, landed in Doha at 9:35 pm.
