The opposition Labour Party (LP) has remained silent regarding allegations by Concerned Nigerian Patriots (CNP) that it is working hand in glove with organised labour to disrupt the country under the pretext of demanding a N250,000 minimum wage.
The CNP, led by Alhaji Alfa Mohammed, claimed at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday that the coalition of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC), and the Labour Party (LP) is leveraging temporary economic hardships to call for strikes, including a recent shutdown of critical national infrastructure affecting the livelihoods of millions.
When contacted, LP’s national publicity secretary, Mr. Obiora Ifo, declined to comment on the issue.
The CNP warned that Nigeria risks plunging into an economic recession if the government accedes to the organised labour’s demand for a minimum wage of N250,000.
CNP maintained that such a wage hike would likely lead to severe inflation, increased unemployment, decreased productivity, and greater economic hardship in the country.
CNP alleged that the N250,000 minimum wage demand poses a significant risk of plunging Nigeria into another recession, exacerbating the economic challenges that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration has been diligently working to overcome.
CNP specifically accused the organised labour of working in cahoots with the Labour Party (LP) and members of the Obidients movement to provoke public unrest and destabilise the government.
CNP accused the coalition of leveraging temporary economic hardships stemming from necessary economic reforms to call for strikes, including a recent shutdown of critical national infrastructure affecting the livelihoods of millions.
“By advocating for a wage increase that is not financially viable, they risk inciting chaos and anarchy, which could undermine our hard-earned democracy,” they alleged.
“Their plan includes a total shutdown of essential infrastructure under the guise of fighting for a living wage, potentially crippling the nation’s economy and disproportionately affecting the most vulnerable citizens.
“It is important to note that this coalition, which supported Mr. Peter Obi in the last presidential election, is now inherently a threat to democracy or economic recovery.
“However, their apparent desperation to disrupt the current administration following their candidate’s loss to President Tinubu is concerning. This group, often referred to as the Obidients, has repeatedly mobilised protests, attempting to make the country ungovernable at every opportunity.”
Urging Nigerian workers to see through the machinations in the interest of the country, they opposed any form of disruptive strikes aimed at destabilising the government.
They called on the President Tinubu-led administration to introduce policies aimed at reducing inflation, particularly in the food, transportation, medical, agriculture, and energy sectors.
Calling for the provision of credit schemes for PMS-CNG conversion and CNG vehicle hire purchase, they stressed the need for funding for mechanised farming projects across all states, with a commodity board to manage excess produce.
They also called for the intensification of technology use to address security challenges, the adoption of an austere recurrent expenditure budget reflecting the current economic situation, and exclusive use of locally assembled or manufactured vehicles for government officials.
LP’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Obiora Ifo, has yet to respond to the alleged conspiracy by the LP and the Obidients movement as of 4:30 pm when asked to explain their side of the story on the matter.
