NLC Threatens Nationwide Protests, Election Boycott Over Electoral Act Confusion, Issues Firm Demand
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has threatened to stage nationwide protests and boycott elections, citing frustration with the Senate’s unclear and conflicting stance on the Electoral Act amendments, especially concerning the electronic transmission of results.
The union’s president, Joe Ajaero, issued a strong statement on Sunday, asserting that the Senate’s failure to mandate electronic transmission has significantly damaged public trust.
“The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) expresses deep concern over the confusion and contradictory narratives emerging from the Senate regarding the amendment to the 2022 Electoral Act, particularly on electronic transmission of results,” Ajaero stated.
The NLC argued that without full transparency, the integrity of Nigeria’s democracy is at risk, noting that “Nigerians deserve a transparent system where votes are not only counted but seen to be counted.”
The labor group pointed out that while the public expected mandatory real-time electronic transmission, the Senate seems to have kept the discretionary rules currently in place.
According to the statement, “This has generated nationwide concern, and subsequent explanations have only added to the confusion.”
The NLC warned that such “legislative ambiguity” just after the 2023 elections risks making public distrust a permanent feature of the electoral system.
Demanding an “immediate, official, and clear explanation” of exactly what was passed, the NLC urged the leadership of the National Assembly to ensure the final bill is unambiguous.
They emphasized that “any ambiguity in the transmission and collation of results is a disservice to our democracy.”
The Congress made it clear that anything less than a mandatory requirement for real-time transmission would lead to serious consequences.
“Failure to include electronic transmission in real-time will result in mass action before, during, and after the election or a total boycott of the election,” the NLC warned, adding that “Nigerian workers and citizens are watching closely.”
Drawing a comparison to recent legislative controversies, the union concluded, “Our nation must choose the path of clarity and integrity. We need to avoid the same confusion that followed the new Tax Acts. The time for honest, people-focused legislation is now.”
