 and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have issued a call for an urgent revocation of the state of emergency){kind=link}
Nigeria has suffered the painful consequences of political overreach in the past, and we cannot afford to repeat such mistakes.
Both the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have issued a call for an urgent revocation of the state of emergency that President Bola Tinubu has declared to be in effect in Rivers State.
The decision made by President Tinubu was opposed by the labor unions, who described it as being illegal and a dangerous expansion of executive power.
The National Labor Congress (NLC) President Comrade Joe Ajaero and the Trades Union Congress (TUC) President Engineer Festus Osifo issued a joint statement in which they referred to the decision made by the president as a slap on democracy.
They also issued a warning that this decision establishes a precedent that is concerning for the administration of government in Nigeria.
The statement read, “The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) unequivocally condemn Mr. President’s hasty and unconstitutional declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.
“This action blatantly violates the provisions of Part II, Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and constitutes an overreach of executive power.
“No democratic society can thrive where elected leaders are arbitrarily removed at the whims of the President.
“This reckless move should deeply concern every reasonable governor and citizen who believes in the rule of law.
“The President, as the custodian of the nation’s executive powers, must exercise restraint, respect constitutional limits, and act in a manner that inspires national confidence rather than suspicion.
“Nigeria has suffered the painful consequences of political overreach in the past, and we cannot afford to repeat such mistakes.
“Given his storied background in political struggle, we urge Mr. President not to betray his democratic credentials by engaging in actions reminiscent of military-era authoritarianism.
“We demand the immediate reversal of this unconstitutional state of emergency in the interest of democracy, economic stability, and the welfare of Nigerian workers. Nigeria’s democracy must not be sacrificed on the altar of political expediency.”