The authority of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has withdrawn its earlier approval for the use of Eagle Square, Abuja, for the Mayday celebration of the International Workers’ Day on May 1st. According to reports, the decision was conveyed in a letter from the FCT minister through his administration’s agency, citing preparations at Eagle Square ahead of the May 29 inauguration of the President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The secretary-general of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja, described the reason given by the minister as ultra-lame and a pointer to a no rosy future for the Nigerian working class. Speaking at a pre-Mayday lecture held at Pascal Bafyau Labour House, Ugboaja urged workers to brace up for war cry and prepare for the worst.
Although the withdrawal has no implication on workers, they have been urged to mark their day from the NLC to every nook and cranny of Nigeria. The NLC secretary-general maintained that the workers would not fail to appreciate themselves, noting that the government does not appreciate the work the workers have put in over the years.
He added that the withdrawal has nothing to do with the Minister of Labour, and if it is a snippet of what workers should expect, they are ready to face it. Ugboaja stressed that workers should prepare for the worst, as the vindicators don’t point towards any rosy future if they don’t struggle.
While the withdrawal of permission to use Eagle Square for the Mayday celebration may have come as a surprise to the organised labour, they are poised to continue the struggle for the betterment of the Nigerian working class. The workers remain resolute in their determination to mark the International Workers’ Day from every nook and cranny of Nigeria, despite the challenges posed by the FCT minister’s decision