Nigeria Marking Eid-el-Fitr Amidst Violence: Labour Union Urges Politicians to Stop Bloodshed

The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has sounded the alarm over the deteriorating security situation across the country, with its president, Joe Ajaero, lamenting that the nation is "bleeding" as Muslims celebrate Eid-el-Fitr.

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The labour body has warned that the ongoing wave of violence poses a significant threat to the country's stability and the foundation of governance, emphasizing that no political ambition should take precedence over human lives.

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In a Sallah message, the NLC stressed that the continued loss of lives, including recent bombings in Maiduguri, indicates a country sliding deeper into crisis, and urged leaders to prioritize peace and security above all else.

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The NLC has issued a stern warning to the political class ahead of the 2027 general elections, emphasizing that leadership is meaningless without a living and secure population, and demanding an immediate end to the senseless bloodletting across the country.

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According to the NLC, the Eid-el-Kabir celebration, which commemorates the sacrifice and submission to the will of Allah, is being marked amidst a nation "bleeding" due to rampant insecurity, with the recent Maiduguri bombings highlighting the scale of evil that has overtaken the country.

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The labour body has called on leaders to use the sacred period for deep and sincere soul-searching, emphasizing that no cause, political ambition, or economic gain is worth shedding a single drop of Nigerian blood.

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The NLC has emphasized that the essence of Sallah lies in the reaffirmation of duty to one another, rather than in opulent feasts, and has urged leaders to rescue the nation from destruction, as the blood of citizens is not a commodity to be traded for political points.

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The labour body has reminded the political class that they cannot govern ghosts, and that the highest gift they can bequeath to citizens is a peaceful nation, where citizens can live without fear and hold leaders accountable.

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The NLC has urged leaders to let the Sallah celebration be a turning point, and to reject the politics of blood in favor of the politics of bread, butter, and peace, by building bridges and fostering understanding rather than fanning the embers of hate.

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The labour body believes that the unity of working people and the masses is the only force that can counter the forces of destruction, and has called for the building of a democracy that benefits the people, where workers and the masses can win, and Nigeria can prosper.

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The NLC has expressed its wish for the Sallah celebration to bring a lasting feast of peace, justice, and security for all Nigerians, rather than just a brief period of feasting.