By Ogalah Ibrahim

The Coalition of Katsina Groups for National Unity and Integration has condemned the planned nationwide protests by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

The group, in a communique, signed by the group’s coordinator, Hamza Umar Saulawa, throws its weight behind the Tinubu administration, praising its efforts to tackle national challenges. They urged the NLC to embrace dialogue instead of street demonstrations.

The group acknowledges the hardships faced by Nigerians, including the rising cost of living and insecurity. However, it lauds the government’s actions to address these issues, highlighting the recent wage award for federal workers, the minimum wage review committee, and the establishment of CNG conversion centers to combat fuel costs.

The communique takes a strong stance against the NLC’s planned protests, arguing that the union has not exhausted all dialogue avenues before resorting to such measures. It commends the government’s willingness to engage with the Labour movement and points to initial steps taken towards meeting their demands as evidence of good faith.

“Realistically speaking, no government on this earth can meet the demands of the NLC in 14 days,” the communique states, urging the union to shelve the protests and continue dialogue. It warns against potential harm to the nation’s fragile peace, drawing parallels to the #ENDSARS protests and their aftermath.

The group goes beyond simply criticizing the protests, taking aim at those it sees as exploiting Nigerians’ suffering for political gain. It calls for unity and collective action across all levels of government, the private sector, and individuals to alleviate the challenges faced by the nation.