From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Federal Government failed to convinced the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) to shelve its planned peaceful protest nationwide, insisting it must go on.
Arising from a meeting with Federal Government delegation led by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, said it’s the responsibility of both parties to ensure the protest is peaceful.
He insisted that the Union would go on a peaceful rally to express their grievances over the deteriorating economic crisis and high cost of living.
According to him, the Federal Government is expected to provide Security to its members as a part of the fundamental rights of citizens as enshrined in the constitution, adding that the union will rally to the National and state assemblies across the country to submit the demands to the Lawmakers and Government’s at all levels.
He said: “The rally goes on but it’s part of their (government) constitutional responsibility to make sure that the rally is peaceful while we are going to try on our own side to make sure it is peaceful. That’s all.”
On their plans to matched to
the National Assembly and State Assemblies to submit their demands, Ajaero said: “Usually, there’s no rally… we don’t do rally for the sake of roaming around. We have demands we must present, so maybe by tomorrow when we present those demands, a copy of it will get to the press.”
The government met on Monday with the organised labour unions, including the NLC and Trade Union Congress (TUC) to avert the planned two-day national protests over the
hardship experienced by Nigerians.
The hardship follows the hike in the prices of food items as well as goods and services following the removal of fuel subsidy and the free fall of the naira, among others.
Pockets of protests had broken out in Kano, Niger, Oyo, Edo, Lagos, Kano, Sokoto, Borno and Osun, among other states, with protesters urging the government to take decisive steps to bring the hardship to an end.
The leadership of the NLC has declared a two-day nationwide mass protest for February 27 and 28.
Ajaero had on Friday during an emergency session of the body, said the decision to protest was taken after the expiration of the 14-day ultimatum earlier issued to the Federal Government over the nationwide hardship.
The ultimatum was issued to press the demands for reforms and concrete actios to address the current hardship being faced by Nigerians.
The meeting which started at about 5.00pm was also attended by major stakeholders from both the government and union sides.
Government officials took turns to convince the workers body to shelve the protest, expressing fear that the protests may lead to breakdown of law and order, noting that isolated protests in some states were nearly hijacked by hoodlums, before the security agents curtailed the situation.
Other government officials at the meeting Ministers of Agriculture; budget and national planning; Labour and Employment; Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Head of Service of the Federation, Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan, as well as the Director General of the Department of State Service (DSS) among others.