February 27, 2024

– By Reporter with additional sources

The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has led many protesters to the National Assembly to drive home their grievances against the high cost of living in the country. 

Various security agencies were seen stationed around the various entrances and exit points of the National Assembly, particularly the Federal Secretariat axis for the orderliness of the protest.

The protesters, who were chanting, are expected to communicate their message to the leadership of the National Assembly.

The NLC defied several warnings as it decided to go ahead with a protest against economic hardship in the country.

However, the Trade Union Congress had backed out of the planned two-day nationwide protest declared by the NLC over high cost of living, inflation, insecurity, and hardship in the country.

 The Vice-President of the TUC, Tommy Etim, told The Media Talk Africa on Wednesday that the decision to protest on February 27 and 28 as announced by the NLC was not taken collectively by both unions.

Similarly, the TUC in a letter dated February 19, 2024, written by its Secretary General, Dr Nuhu Toro, said the NLC unilaterally took the decision on the planned protest.

Etim confirmed the letter addressed to the NLC President, Mr Joe Ajaero, adding that “by the virtue of the letter, there is no way we can join the protest.”

The DSS had last week warned that some persons were planning to use the opportunity of the planned protests by Organised Labour slated for 27th and 28th February to foment crisis and widespread violence.

Director, Public Relations and Strategic Communications, DSS National Headquarters, Abuja, Dr Peter Afunanya, in a statement, called on labour to shelve the action meant to protest the economic situation in the country in the interest of peace.

He urged that they should pursue dialogue and negotiation rather than engaging in conducts that could heighten tensions in the country.