Niger Delta Group Congratulates Tinubu, Faults Ajaero Over Planned NLC Warning Strike
The Niger Delta Indigenous Movement for Radical Change has congratulated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu while condemning NLC President Joe Ajaero’s planned mobilisation against the Federal Government.
The Niger Delta Indigenous Movement for Radical Change (NDIMRC) has congratulated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on what it described as the administration’s commitment to economic reforms, while condemning the planned mobilisation of workers by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, for a showdown with the Federal Government.
The group described the planned industrial action and recent criticisms of the Tinubu administration by the NLC leadership as self-serving, ill-timed and contrary to the national interest.
In a statement issued on Sunday and signed by its President, Nelly Emma, Secretary, John Sailor, and Public Relations Officer, Stanley Mukoro, the group urged Nigerians to reject what it described as attempts to turn organised labour into a tool for political and economic disruption.
NDIMRC alleged that the proposed mobilisation was politically motivated and economically insensitive, arguing that the Federal Government under Tinubu had continued to engage labour leaders despite disagreements over economic policies and reforms.
Group Challenges Claim That Tinubu Is Aloof
The group said available records did not support claims that President Tinubu had refused to engage the labour movement.
It recalled that in December 2025, when the NLC threatened a nationwide protest over insecurity, President Tinubu reportedly met with Ajaero and members of his team at the State House at about 11:27pm in an effort to prevent the planned protest.
According to NDIMRC, the meeting was attended by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris, Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo and the Minister of State for Labour, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha.
The group argued that the reported engagement contradicted the description of the administration as “aloof”, adding that Ajaero himself acknowledged during a Mic On Podcast interview that governors intervened and dialogue took place following the December protest threat.
NDIMRC also recalled the Federal Government’s earlier proposal of a N250,000 minimum wage in exchange for the full deregulation of petrol prices to N1,500 per litre.
The group said Ajaero had acknowledged that labour rejected the proposal and eventually settled for the N70,000 minimum wage.
It consequently argued that an administration that was prepared to make such an offer could not fairly be described as anti-worker.
NDIMRC Faults Demand for N500 Petrol
The group also criticised the current mobilisation directive attributed to the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC), particularly the demand for a reduction in the price of petrol to N500 per litre.
NDIMRC described the demand as unrealistic and argued that the removal of fuel subsidy had saved the country substantial resources while contributing to improved stability in petroleum product supply.
It further described the proposed NLC warning strike scheduled for October 2 to 4 as ill-timed, alleging that it could undermine ongoing economic reforms and provide political advantage to opposition groups.
The group said Nigerians and public servants should be allowed to benefit from the reforms being implemented by the Federal Government rather than being mobilised for what it described as a confrontation with the President.
Group Says Tinubu Is Tackling Longstanding Economic Challenges
NDIMRC further argued that successive administrations had failed to address some of the structural problems affecting Nigeria’s economy, particularly the challenges associated with fuel subsidy management.
It commended President Tinubu for taking what it described as difficult decisions on subsidy removal and other economic reforms, saying the administration was attempting to address problems that had persisted for years.
The group therefore urged Ajaero and the NLC leadership to channel their influence towards constructive engagement and support for measures capable of strengthening the economy and improving workers’ welfare.
Rather than shutting down hospitals, schools and other public services through industrial action, NDIMRC called on labour leaders to continue dialogue with the Federal Government while allowing the reforms to mature.
The group also cited wage awards, compressed natural gas (CNG) initiatives and continued engagement with labour among the measures it said demonstrated the administration’s concern for workers.
It urged Nigerian workers not to allow themselves to be used as “cannon fodder” in what it described as a politically motivated confrontation, insisting that disagreements over government policies should be addressed through dialogue and negotiation.
NDIMRC maintained that the era of using strike threats to pressure governments for what it described as selfish interests should end, while calling on the NLC leadership to reconsider its approach to the Tinubu administration.