The Nigeria Labour Congress has advised the Federal Government not to extend the lockdown order in the country imposed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic with a warning that doing so might lead to social unrest in the affected states and the Federal Capital Territory.
In a letter addressed to the chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 and dater April 14, 2020, signed by the NLC president, Ayuba Wabba, the labour union also picked holes with the method of distribution of the palliative measures by the Federal Government.
The letter read: “While we understand the public health imperatives for extending the lockdown in some parts of the country, it is also very important to underscore the fact that the states currently under total lockdown are the economic and administrative nerve centres of Nigeria.
“This is very dicey. As much as it is important to keep many Nigerians from dying in the hands of coronavirus, loss of income and the accompanying destitution can also be a pathfinder for numerous other sicknesses and deaths. This is the time to play the balancing game.
“The truth is that our economy might relapse into prolonged coma if the current lockdown in the nation’s nerve centres goes beyond the current extension.
READ ALSO: Insecurity: Nigeria Is Not On Course – NLC President
“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. We fear that the situation will get out of hand if the lockdown exceeds one month.
“While we commend government for being proactive, we opine that the stimulus package would be best served through consultation with social partners.
“Labour and private sector employers have a good understanding of industries where jobs and production are in most danger.”
