The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, has condemned the government?s handling of economic policies, accusing it of betraying workers through unjust taxation, tariff hikes, and failure to honour agreements.

Speaking at the 6th Quadrennial Delegates Conference of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria in Lagos on Friday, Ajaero warned that Nigerian workers would not remain silent in the face of economic hardship.

He accused the government of neglecting its regulatory responsibilities and prioritising corporate interests over the well-being of citizens.

?We must resist the attempt to tax the Nigerian people to death,? Ajaero declared.

?At a time when the minimum wage is not being implemented appropriately, and federal civil servants are having their salaries arbitrarily reduced, we cannot remain silent. These actions are not just unjust; they are a betrayal of the social contract between the government and the people,? he stated.

Ajaero lauded the outgoing MWUN leadership under Adewale Adeyanju, hailing his efforts in strengthening the union and defending maritime workers? rights.

He urged the union to elect leaders who would continue the struggle for fair wages, decent working conditions, and a stronger labour movement.

?The new leadership must surpass the achievements of the past,? Ajaero emphasised.

?It must take the union to greater heights and ensure that workers ultimately win,? he added.

The NLC president also warned against growing authoritarian tendencies in governance, insisting that the labour movement would not tolerate any form of dictatorship or economic oppression.

?We must resist the concentration of power in the hands of a few and the systematic subversion of constitutional order,? he said.

He warned that dictatorship in any form is unacceptable. Political actors must operate within the democratic framework and prioritise the interests of the working class.?

Ajaero called on Nigerian workers to remain vigilant and organised, promising that the NLC would continue to push back against policies that undermine their welfare.

?Our struggle is not just about the maritime sector or the MWUN alone,? he said.

?It is a struggle for the soul of Nigeria ? a struggle to build a nation where the rights of workers are respected, where labour is justly rewarded, and where the welfare of every citizen is prioritised,? he said.

As the MWUN elects its new leadership, Ajaero urged delegates to make their choices wisely, warning that the future of the labour movement depended on their decisions. (The PUNCH)

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