The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has reacted to President Bola Tinubu’s jab, in which he advised labor unions to cease their demonstrations and hold off on entering politics until 2027.
At the Lagos Red Line project’s inauguration on Thursday, the President reminded the labor unions that they are not the sole voice for Nigerians and asked them to keep the peace.
However, in response to the President’s comments on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, TUC President Festus Osifo stated that union members have the freedom to demonstrate and that they are not politicians.
“I listened to that comment yesterday where he said that we should wait for 2027 if we want to contest for elections. I could speak for Trade Union Congress, we are not politicians, we are unionists, it is our right to protest – it is a fundamental right of every single Nigeria,” stated the former PENGASSAN President.
“So we don’t have issues with protests, when need be, people will exercise their rights and people must protest. In terms of waiting till 2027 to enter into politics, I don’t think that is something we could dabble into because I as an individual I am not a card-carrying member of any political party.
“What I am interested in is the welfare of my members and indeed the entire Nigerian masses. So, what the president said for me is alien to us because the right to protest and the right to strike is that of the workers.
“There are condition precedents, for the fact that you are going on protest or strike, there are some things that led to it, those fundamental issues must be addressed.”
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