The Presidency has lashed out at the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), accusing them of playing politics with their ongoing nationwide strike, to the detriment of ordinary Nigerians.
On Monday, President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, criticized the organized Labour for causing harm to the very people they are supposed to be protecting.
He expressed concern that the strike is preventing access to medical care in government hospitals, leaving many Nigerians, especially those with critical health conditions, in dire straits.
In a post on X, Onanuga lamented, “It’s saddening that Labour could go to this extreme. But it is not surprising to the perceptive minds.
“Labour is harming the Nigerian people they claim to be fighting for. Today, many sick Nigerians cannot access medical care at government hospitals. Not even those with critical medical conditions. It appears Labour is playing politics by other means.”
Onanuga went on to suggest that the motivations behind the strike may be politically charged.
He noted that many affiliates of the NLC and TUC are supporters of the Labour Party, implying that their actions are driven by partisan interests. “Many of the affiliates of the two central unions, NLC and TUC, are members and supporters of the Labour Party. They logically bear ill will and grudges against the Tinubu administration. Otherwise, the issue they claim to be fighting for cannot be resolved by blackmail or sabotage,” he stated.
He also emphasized that the issues raised by the Labour unions cannot be addressed unilaterally by the Federal Government, urging Labour leaders to return to the negotiating table.
“They cannot even be resolved by the Federal Government unilaterally; the Labour leaders will still have to return to the negotiating table,” Onanuga added.
The strike, which has led to widespread disruptions across the country, continues to generate debate and division, with the government and Labour unions locked in a standoff over demands and negotiations.