The Labour Party (LP) has criticized the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), led by Joe Ajaero, and the National Assembly for neglecting their primary duty of defending the interests of Nigerians. This criticism follows the recent fuel price hike by the National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), which pushed prices beyond ₦1,000 per liter.
Alhaji Umar Faruk, LP’s National Secretary, expressed the party’s concerns in an interview with *Daily Sun*, describing the situation as dire, with a lack of effective opposition contributing to bad governance. Faruk argued that Nigeria has become a “one-party system” due to the compromised opposition and the involvement of labor unions in partisan politics.
Faruk stated, “We in the Labour Party have always warned the Nigerian public of days like this. The government is taking citizens for granted because the opposition has failed to represent them.”
He further pointed out that labor unions, which should advocate for workers’ rights, have lost their credibility, focusing on their own interests instead of those of the working class. This, he added, has led to widespread disillusionment with the organized labor movement.
Additionally, Faruk criticized opposition members in the National Assembly for being “toothless” in holding the government accountable. “The elected opposition members have been compromised, creating a one-party state. Democracy is in danger, and we must speak out,” he remarked.
When asked about potential protests, Faruk blamed the lack of opposition action in the legislative chambers, emphasizing that the primary responsibility to counter the ruling party rests with opposition lawmakers.
The Labour Party’s sharp rebuke reflects the growing frustration among Nigerians over rising costs and the perceived inaction of both labor unions and opposition parties.
