Labour Mobilises For Nationwide Protest This Week Despite FG’s Warning

Members of the organised labour comprising both the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress have maintained their earlier stance that they would not back down on the nationwide protest billed to hold on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively.

This is coming amidst a series of warnings from various government quarters to the congress to should shelve its planned nationwide action in the interest of peace.

First to give its warning was the Department of State Services, who said, through its spokesman, Peter Afunanya, that the organised labour should negotiate with the government officials rather than embarking on an action that might affect national security.

In the same vein, the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, said the action of the organised labour would be contemptuous if they embarked on the protest, citing two ex parte orders previously granted by the National Industrial Court.

But members of the organised labour and some civil society organisations, maintained that no level of blackmail, threats or warning from the government would make them to back down on their decision, saying the protest would be peaceful.

In an interview with newsmen, the Head of Information, NLC headquarters, Benson Upah, confirmed that members of the Congress were mobilising across the States, insisting that they have been working through the weekend to fine-tune how peaceful the protest would be.

“What I can tell you is that, mobilisation is going on with high spirits. We had commenced mobilisation since February 22 when the ultimatum expired. We’re working through the weekend to ensure that things are put in place,” Upah told our correspondent in a telephone interview.

Similarly, members of Joint Action Front (JAF), Coalition for Revolution (CORE) and other CSOs said they would come out en masse to protest against rising inflation, insecurity among other challenges being faced.

In a public notice shared on X y, the oanisations listed their demands as reversal of subsidy removal policy, stoppage of galloping inflation, stoppage of current increase in school fees among others.

The protest, billed to hold across 36 States of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory simultaneously would be led by the President of NLC, Joe Ajaero, his counterpart from TUC, Festus Osifo, and the State chairmen of the Congresses.