Laolu Akande, a former aide to ex-Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, has voiced his concern over the ongoing nationwide strike by organized labour, describing it as a distracting setback.
Akande, emphasizing the need for immediate action, called on President Bola Tinubu to address the underlying issues causing the strike, stating that Nigerians cannot afford to be sidetracked by such disruptions.
He highlighted the prevailing hardships faced by Nigerians amidst the country’s fiscal crisis, stressing that these concerns outweigh the impact of the ongoing strike.
During an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Akande urged Tinubu to tackle the national challenges exacerbated by the strike, which commenced on Tuesday.
Akande stated, “Mr. President has acknowledged that the responsibility ultimately rests with him; therefore, it is imperative to appeal to him to address this issue without delay. We cannot afford this distraction.”
He continued, “The nation is grappling with more pressing issues. The populace is enduring immense hardship, and the last thing they need is a national strike. We simply cannot afford this disruption, and I firmly believe that it can be swiftly resolved. I do not see this as an insurmountable hurdle.”
“What we need now is decisive action. Procrastination is unacceptable. The President needs to take charge and swiftly resolve this matter. Mr. President, fix this.”
“This is a matter that can be addressed with a single phone call. A call from the Villa to the Labour leaders would bring them to the table,” Akande remarked.