Trade Union Congress Defends Right to Protest, Responds to President Tinubu’s Remarks

In his comments on Thursday at the inauguration of the Lagos Red Line project, President Tinubu advised labor unions to participate in the electoral process in 2027 if they want to be involved in politics and to maintain peace, stating that they are not the only voice of Nigerians.

Responding to the President’s comments on Channels Television’s Politics Today, the President of the TUC, Festus Osifo, clarified that members of his union are not politicians and that their focus is on the welfare of their members and the Nigerian masses.

He emphasized that the right to protest and the right to strike are fundamental rights of every Nigerian and that these rights must be respected.

Osifo also mentioned that there are condition precedents for going on a protest or strike, and that the fundamental issues leading to such actions must be addressed.

As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the relationship between the Nigerian government and the labor unions will evolve and whether the concerns of the workers will be addressed in a timely and effective manner.