By Ibrahim Ramalan

The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has berated the State Security Service, SSS, for calling on the union to shelve its planned strike.

The NLC insisted that the planned nationwide protests against the prevailing economic situation in the country, slated for February 27 and 28.

According to reports, the Federal Government’s failure to fulfil its promises after the 14-day ultimatum by labour will be met with a strike action.

Earlier on Wednesday, the SSS spokesman, Peter Afunanya, urged the union to shelve the plan in the interest of peace and public order.

The service urged the union to pursue dialogue and negotiation rather than engage in conduct that could heighten tensions.

But the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, in a statement he personally signed on Wednesday evening, said no going back on strike.

Mr Ajaero questioned why the SSS had yet to arrest those planning to disrupt the protests.

“We are concerned by the unsolicited advice of the Department of State Security to shelve our planned protest against the unprecedented high cost of living despite the indescribable suffering in the land, spiralling inflation, deepening poverty and the Naira at an exchange rate of N1,900 to the US Dollar.

“According to the Service, the planned protest should be shelved ‘in the interest of peace and public order’, pre-supposing that the action is intended to be violent and disruptive even when we have a history of peaceful protests’.

“More worrying is the new role the Service has assigned to itself, the chief spokesperson of the government.

“We are equally worried that although the “Service is aware that some elements are planning to use the opportunity of the protest to foment crisis and by extension, widespread violence and yet have not executed the arrest of these elements,” the NLC president said.

Mr Ajaero noted that the NLC will not compromise the sovereignty or security of the country while assuring that the protests would be peaceful.

“We are equally intrigued by the innuendos of the Service, their philosophy of “peace” and wild allegations and we want to reassure them that no one loves this country more than us and on our honour, we would never do anything that will compromise its sovereignty or security.

“Having said this, we would not have ourselves blackmailed or lied against by the Service. Our protest is a peaceful one against the unpardonable cost of living of which the unserviced personnel of the Service are also victims.

“We cannot fold our hands and pretend all is well. That will be a grievous conspiracy that history will not forgive,” he added.

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