Coronavirus: Lockdown extension will likely trigger unrest – NLC warns

 

Following the governors’ agreement to impose an inter-state lockdown for two weeks, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Wednesday, April 22, warned against any further extension of the lockdown.

NLC president Ayuba Wabba in a letter addressed to Boss Mustapha, the chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, warned that the situation would likely get out hand if the lockdown is extended, Daily Trust reports.

In another report by ThisDay, the letter which was dated Tuesday, April 14, and signed by Wabba, also warned that the lockdown extension beyond one month may trigger social unrest.

Wabba pointed out that the states under total lockdown are Nigeria’s economic and administrative nerves centres.

He said: “Within the first two weeks of the lockdown in some parts of the country, there were widespread acts of civil disobedience, inducement of law enforcement agents to gain passes and even various forms of violent crimes. No one is sure how long this dam would hold.”

The NLC went on to fault the palliative provided for the poor and vulnerable affected by the pandemic. Wabba urged the task force to include other social partners in consultation for the stimulus package.

He added that the labour union should also be included as a critical social partner in the inter-ministerial economic response team.

He said the organized labour

 would set up a situation room that would interface with the inter-ministerial committee on policy interventions and recommendations on post-COVID-19 economic response.