Lagos, Nigeria – Festus Osifo, President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), has strongly criticized the Nigerian government for what he perceives as an attempt to intimidate the labour movement following the police invitation of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President Joe Ajaero. Ajaero has been called in for questioning over serious allegations, including terrorism financing, treasonable felony, and cybercrime.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Osifo demanded transparency from the authorities regarding the charges against Ajaero. “Our lawyer, Femi Falana, has responded, urging the government to clarify these allegations. Nigerians deserve to know the specifics. It appears that the government is attempting to suppress the labour movement. Joe Ajaero is acting on behalf of NLC members, not for personal gain,” Osifo stated.
Osifo emphasized the TUC’s commitment to advocating for government accountability and warned that a potential shutdown of the oil and gas industry could be on the horizon if necessary reforms are not implemented to revive the nation’s refineries.
In a related discussion, the President of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) addressed the reoccurring fuel queues that have plagued the country. Osifo highlighted the logistical challenges as the root cause of the petrol scarcity and warned that without structural changes, these issues would persist.
“Even if the current queues disappear within the next week, we cannot guarantee they won’t return in a month. Until we either fix the pipelines or establish strategic reserves across the country, we will continue to face these challenges,” Osifo warned.
The remarks from both labour leaders underscore the growing tension between the government and the labour movement, particularly in the critical oil and gas sector, as the nation grapples with ongoing fuel distribution issues.
