The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has adamantly declared that the union will not retract its decision to embark on a nationwide strike, despite warnings from the Department of State Security (SSS). Ajaero criticized the SSS for advising against the protest and questioned the agency’s failure to apprehend those allegedly planning to disrupt the demonstrations.

In a statement released on Wednesday, Ajaero expressed concerns over the SSS’s attempt to dissuade the peaceful protest, implying that the agency has taken on a role as the government’s chief spokesperson. He underscored the NLC’s commitment to conducting a peaceful demonstration, emphasizing that they would not jeopardize the country’s sovereignty or security.

Ajaero rebuffed the SSS’s insinuations and pledged that the NLC’s protest aims to address the exorbitant cost of living, which has adversely affected both the general populace and even the SSS personnel. He emphasized the NLC’s determination to act against the economic hardships faced by the citizens, firmly rejecting any portrayal of their protest as a threat to public order.

The NLC president’s statement conveyed a strong message, affirming the union’s unwavering stance on the impending strike and dismissing the SSS’s attempts to dissuade them. With tensions escalating, the nation braces for the impending showdown between the NLC and the government.