The Olugbon of Orile-Igbon, Oba Francis Alao, has cautioned the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) against taking unpatriotic decisions against President Bola Tinubu’s administration, saying the new administration needs the understanding of all in order to deliver on its electoral promises.
In a statement in Ibadan on Tuesday, the monarch, who is the Deputy Chairman, Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs, also urged Nigerians to be patient with Tinubu, pointing out that revamping an ailing economy takes some time instead of working like magic.
The monarch urged labour leaders to show understanding with the Federal Government because of this fact and cautioned them against politicizing governance.
The statement read: “Nigerians should beware of hypocrisy of the NLC . Prior to the inauguration of this present administration, the same NLC backed the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, for proposing to remove subsidy if elected. Now that President Bola Tinubu won the election and took a decision to remove subsidy, NLC wants to ground Nigeria despite the plans and assurances given by President Bola Tinubu on how to cushion the effect of subsidy removal in the lives of Nigerians
“As I have said several times, Nigerians need to be patient with this government in order to revive the economy of this nation due to mismanagement in the past. Fixing a badly damaged economy takes time irrespective of the number of experts working on it. This can not work like magic. It requires a gradual process of reviewing and amending policies and their implementation which this administration has kick-started in a positive direction.
“The NLC should stop playing God. Why didn’t NLC speak against Godwin Emefiele’s Naira Swap policy despite causing hardship on Nigerians? The NLC is now claiming to love Nigerians because of the subsidy removal which it supported initially .
“I urge Nigerians to be patient with the administration of Bola Tinubu and allow the programme of palliatives introduced by the Federal Government to be implemented in order to cushion the effect of subsidy removal. Protest will only worsen issues; let us be positive for a greater Nigeria.”