Despite warnings from the Department of State Services (DSS), the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, and other agencies of the government, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) embarked on their planned nationwide protest in Abuja on Tuesday.
News About Nigeria reported that the AGF had charged the organised labour to shelve the planned protests because embarking on them would be a breach of court process/contempt of court.
Also, the DSS had tasked the workers to call off the planned protests because embarking on the protest against a government that has just spent eight months in office is uncalled for.
They had also noted that embarking on the protests would spur anarchy against the government, which would eventually lead to unrest.
However, the organised labour led by the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, on Tuesday kicked off the protest from the Labour House Headquarters in Abuja.
According to organised labour, the protests are due to the high cost of living, inflation, insecurity, and hardship currently bedevilling the nation.
Speaking to newsmen when the protest started, Ajaero explained that contrary to claims that there would be violence, their primary aim as workers is to embark on a peaceful protest to call the president’s attention to the current sufferings and their demands as a union.
He said, “The government said we should not do a rally. They used peaceful means and threats but we are in God’s hands. We are here for a rally so that Mr President will know how Nigerians feel and where it is pinching us.”
The unions present at the protest include the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, the FCT Council, the Construction Workers’ Union, and the Nigeria Union of Teachers among others.
