Heavy Security Presence As Labour Unions, Workers Protest In Lagos, Bayelsa, Kano, Kwara Over Petrol Subsidy Removal
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Labour unions in Lagos have commenced Wednesday’s march to protest against the removal of subsidy on premium motor spirit, otherwise called petrol and other ‘anti-masses policies’ of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The protest is ongoing at Ikeja, the Lagos State capital.
However, there is a heavy security presence around Ikeja Under-bridge in Lagos where the protesters are gathered.
A protest has also commenced in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.
There is also a heavy security presence in Kano, northwest Nigeria where protesters have gathered for mass action.
We earlier reported that the procession in Bayelsa was taking off from OMPADEC Field, Amara. The protesters, who are mainly workers, will march to the Government House Gate.
Reporters sighted policemen stationed around Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, while residents went about their daily routines.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Tuesday said that it had neither reconsidered nor suspended its planned nationwide protest scheduled for Wednesday.
The labour union made this known in a statement signed by its President, Joe Ajaero, insisting that its demands still remained the same.
The Secretary of the NLC, Emma Ugbaja, after a meeting with the Nigerian government committee, earlier reportedly said that while President Bola Tinubu’s announced intervention measures were welcoming, they were not comprehensive enough.
Ugbaja had hinted that the organised labour comprising NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) would consult with their members to reach a consensus on the next course of action before the end of Tuesday ahead of Wednesday.
However, Ajaero in the statement said, “We want to inform all Nigerians that we have just risen from a meeting with the Federal Government where we sought to get them to listen to the demands of the people and workers of Nigeria.
“The outcome of this meeting earlier today has however not changed anything or the course which we have set for ourselves tomorrow as custodians of the interests and desires of Nigerian workers and people.
“Nigerians are advised to ignore the work of fifth columnists who are working hard against the wishes of the people. We urge everyone to gather in our respective states and wherever we may be across the nation to give vent to this collective resolve.
“Once again, the Nationwide Mass Protest will start tomorrow.”
The organised labour’s demands include the immediate reversal of all anti-poor policies of the government including the recent hikes in petrol prices, school fees and VAT.
The labour unions are also asking the government to fix local refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna; release eight months withheld salaries of university lecturers (members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU) and workers.
Also, the organised labour is demanding that the government should accord appropriate recognition and support to the Presidential Steering Committee and the work of its subcommittees to put a stop to human actions and policies of the government.
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