In response to President Bola Tinubu’s New Year broadcast, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have issued a stern warning, emphasizing the imperative for the administration to fulfill its promises to Nigerian workers in 2024.
The NLC and TUC, in separate interviews with correspondents in Abuja, urged President Tinubu to “walk the talk” and deliver on commitments made in his address. The labor unions expressed concern over the administration’s track record, cautioning against unfulfilled promises.
The President’s speech highlighted the removal of fuel subsidy and the devaluation of the Naira as contributing factors to the frustrations faced by Nigerians. President Tinubu acknowledged the challenges but called for patience, assuring citizens that his government was working to address socio-economic issues through the ‘Renewed Hope Agenda.’ He also pledged the implementation of a new living minimum wage for Nigerian workers in the coming year.
Reacting to the speech, the NLC’s Head of Information, Benson Upah, emphasized that honoring the new national minimum wage was a statutory obligation and not a favor. TUC’s National Vice-President, Tommy Etim, echoed the sentiment, urging the government to match words with action in 2024.
Opposition parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party, criticized the President’s speech, labeling it a “harvest of deceit, false claims, and empty promises.” The PDP, in a statement, expressed disappointment with the lack of addressing critical issues such as insecurity, infrastructure decay, and economic challenges.
In response, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) defended President Tinubu, with the Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, dismissing opposition criticism as an affront to the intelligence of Nigerians. The APC praised the President for his commitment to monitoring officials’ performance through the Federal Government Appointees’ Monitoring and Evaluation Unit.
While critics accused the President of dishonesty and lack of empathy, the Director-General of Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies, Issa Aremu, commended Tinubu’s commitment to a new minimum and living wage in 2024.
Meanwhile, the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) acknowledged challenges faced in the past year and commended the President’s commitment to addressing critical economic issues. However, the LCCI called for more detailed plans and strategies to tackle challenges such as inflation, under-employment, security, and social inequality, advocating for a transparent and inclusive approach to governance.
