• NLC insists on protest, says it can’t be blackmailed
From Adanna Nnamani, Abuja
The Department of State Services (DSS) has advised the organised labour to embrace dialogue and negotiation against its planned protest.
The NLC had last Friday, declared a two-day nationwide protest over the hardship being experienced by Nigerians as well as the deteriorating security situation in the country.
The action is to denounce several issues, including the recent removal of fuel subsidies, the rising cost of life, and insecurity. Further details, including the locations and times for the gatherings, remain unclear. The NLC announced a nationwide infinite strike would follow on March 2 should authorities fail to adequately address the unions’ demands.
But Dr. Peter Afunanya, Director of Public Relations and Strategic Communications of the DSS, in a statement, said the service recognised protest as the legitimate right of the labour movement but urged the body to shelve the planned action in the interest of peace and public order.
“The attention of the DSS has been drawn to plans by sections of the organised labour to stage protests between Feb. 27 and Feb. 28 in parts of the country over sundry economic issues.
“The DSS appeals to labour to go after dialogue and negotiation rather than engaging in conducts that can heighten tensions.
“More so, the service is aware that some elements are planning to use the opportunity of the protest to foment crisis and by extension, widespread violence.”
He said the protest, without doubt, would worsen the socio-economic situation across the country.
According to him, it is common knowledge that all levels of government are striving to ameliorate the prevailing economic condition and as such, should be given a benefit of the doubt.
He said appropriate authorities were working assiduously with a spectrum of stakeholders to fashion out modalities to address the current difficulties. Afunanya urged citizens to recognise that what remained unsolved in peace time, would not be attained in war-time, adding that everyone would be casualty in time of trouble.
“Ongoing wars in the global scene is a stark reminder of their catastrophic repercussions on the affected countries’ domestic environments thus, the critical need to protect and maintain our internal stability and unity.
“Those exploiting the fault lines in the country need to have a rethink as resort to negativities will endanger our peaceful coexistence with dire consequences.
“Parents and guardians are implored to exert authority in guiding their children and wards from inimical acts capable of jeopardising public safety and harmony.”
He urged all sectors, including political parties, opposition groups, religious and traditional institutions, civil society and non-governmental bodies to eschew violence and demonstrate leadership and statesmanship in the current challenging times.
According to him, making political capital out of the current situation or involving in divisive utterances at a time like this, will be of no benefit to any peace-loving Nigerian.
Afunanya enjoined citizens to be vigilant and not allow fifth columnists and hostile forces or agents to use them to destabilise the peace of the nation.
Regardless, the NL has vowed never to halt its planned nationwide protest against economic hardship, despite warnings by the DSS asking it to shun the action.
A statement by its spokesperson, Mr. Benson Upah, said the Congress was unconcerned with the DSS’s unsolicited advise and that they could not be coerced into cancelling the demonstration.
It questioned why, despite its claims to possess such intelligence, the Service was unwilling to carry out the arrest of elements plotting to foment crisis.
The state read: “We are concerned by the unsolicited advice of the Department of State Security to shelve our planned protest against the unprecedented high cost of living in spite of the indescribable suffering in the land, spiralling inflation, deepening poverty and the Naira at an exchange rate of N1,900 to the US Dollar.
“According to the Service, the planned protest should be shelved “in the interest of peace and public order”, pre-supposing that the action is intended to be violent and disruptive even when we have a history of peaceful protests.
“More worrying is the new role the Service has assigned to itself, the chief spokesperson of the government.
“It is common knowledge that all levels of Government are striving to ameliorate the prevailing economic condition and as such, should be given a benefit of the doubt, So far, appropriate authorities are working assiduously with a spectrum of stakeholders to fashion out modalities to address the current difficulties.
“We are equally worried that although the “Service is aware that some elements are planning to use the opportunity of the protest to foment crisis and by extension, widespread violence” and yet have not executed the arrest of these elements.
“We are equally intrigued by the innuendos of the Service, their philosophy of ‘peace’ and wild allegations and we want to reassure them that no one loves this country more than us and in our honour, we would never do anything that will compromise its sovereignty or security.
“Having said this, we would not have ourselves blackmailed or lied against by the Service. Our protest is a peaceful one against the unpardonable cost of living of which the unserviced personnel of the Service are also victims. We cannot fold our hands and pretend all is well. That will be a grievous conspiracy that history will not forgive.”