NLC: It’s difficult to ask workers to bear harsh realities — but 2023 presents hope

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has asked workers to be hopeful of a better country amid rising insecurity and inflation.

The NLC said this on Friday in a Christmas message signed by Ayuba Wabba, the union’s president.

The union asked workers to exhibit hope that inspires confidence, and also embrace the message of Christmas which comes with the expectation of better times ahead.

“This Christmas, we urge Nigerian workers and people to resonate in the light of hope birthed by the love of God conveyed through the birth of His son Jesus Christ,” the NLC said.

“It is the illumination of this hope that inspires confidence in our hearts, that however dark our night as a country might be, light would certainly emerge and shine at the end of our tunnel.

“Many Nigerian workers and ordinary people are currently going through the dark tunnel of soaring inflation, marked by very steep increases in the prices of essential goods and services.

“Many Nigerian families are going through the dark tunnel of general apprehension about their security and personal safety, as criminals and terrorists hold sway in many parts of the country looting, raping, kidnapping, and killing.

“Many Nigerians who would be travelling this festive season would be going through the dark tunnel of bruised, broken and battered infrastructure, especially roads.

“While the light of Christmas would be celebrated across many cities, towns and villages around the world with bright illumination which are by-products of stability in public electricity supply, many Nigerians would be battling with queuing for hours to get petrol to power their generators.

“It is difficult to keep urging workers and ordinary Nigerians to hold on to the life buoy of hope in the midst of a burgeoning bay of darkness.

“Yet, hope is Christmas’ sublime message. It is only prudent that we take sinew from the knowledge that the darkest night usually births the brightest mornings. We believe that Nigeria’s brightest morning is just ahead of us.”

The union said the 2023 elections presents a “harbinger of hope” for Nigerians to elect new political leaders, and urged workers to participate in the political process.