- The group said one of the key reasons why the NLC protest failed to make a significant impact is the leadership style.
- The neglection of significant groups traditionally supporting the NLC has alienated the public and damaged trust in the organisation.
The two-day nationwide protest led by Joe Ajaero of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has elicited a response from the Committee for Patriotic Democrats (CPD).
It is evident that the protest was neither successful nor impactful for a number of reasons, primarily resulting from Joe Ajaero’s leadership style and the lack of support and participation from key stakeholders and the general public, according to a statement released by the CPD yesterday and signed by its chairman, Hayatu Habu.
It said that the leadership style was one of the main reasons the NLC protest didn’t have enough impact.
It asserted that the NLC had lost support and confidence from the public due to Joe Ajaero’s divisive leadership style, and that since Ajaero rose to the top, the group had been seen more as a personal empire than as an entity dedicated to resolving the larger issues facing Nigeria’s millions of residents and working class.
Furthermore, it stated that concerns have been raised about the genuine intentions of the NLC leadership due to the protest’s exclusion of important stakeholders like student organisations and civil society organisations (CSOs).
It stated that the public’s perception of the NLC has been further damaged and trust has been undermined by the decision to ignore and marginalize these significant organisations, who have historically supported the organisation.