Abuja, Feb. 27, 2024 – The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) on Tuesday defied warnings from securities agencies by organising street protests across the country in protest against the harsh economic situation.
In Abuja, the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, led the protesters who carried placards with different inscriptions to the National Assembly to show their grievances to the lawmakers.
Although the protest was peaceful, security agencies were seen around the various points of entry to the National Assembly particularly the Federal Secretariat axis.
In Lagos, the protesters, who had gathered as early as 7.00 am at Ikeja Roundabout, were joined by some other unions like the Nigerian Union of Teachers, The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, National Union of Air Transport Employees and others.
The protesters were later seen moving toward the Lagos State Secretariat, Alausa, probably for a rally.
Some police officers were seen around the protesters to ensure orderliness as the Lagos Police Command had promised to ensure peace and order during the protests.
In Ibadan, Seyi Makinde, the Governor of Oyo State, joined the NLC protest and led the protesters around some major streets of Ibadan.
In Ebonyi State, the protest was led by the Chairman of NLC, Ọgụgụa Egwu.
The protesters, who marched around major streets and roads in Abakaliki, converged on the Pa Ngele Ọruta Stadium.
Egwu, who addressed the protesters at Udensi Roundabout near the old Government House, said the workers were the worst hit by the economic situation..
“Nigerian people are dying, we are suffering and smiling. It is obvious that Nigerian people despite the hardship we face on daily basis they still try to move.
“It is obvious that the pain is to mouch and we are here to use every legal means to tell the world that indeed we are pained, that indeed we are suffering.
“We are here not against anybody; we are here because we are hungry. Starvation has become a burden among Nigerian people, starvation hadas become a burden among the workers.
“A worker cannot even afford a square meal, a worker cannot feed himself not to talk of his family, a worker cannot afford to take himself to work and yet we call ourselves Nigerians.
“We have children but we cannot take them to school, we have children but we cannot even afford to feed them. A sachet of pure water is more than N50, a litre of fuel is more than N700, a litre of cooking gas is more than N1400, a bag of cement is mor than 10,000 as we speak, a bushel of rice is more than N30, 000.
“We shall not continue to be silent; we shall continue to speak out, we shall continue to let the ruling class know that the period of oppression is coming to an end and Nigeria must be good again.”
NLC had declared a two-day nationwide protest against the harsh economic situation in the country on Feb. 27 and Feb. 28. (GBN)
