The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and other associated unions have launched a demonstration in Abuja over the country’s high cost of living, inflation, insecurity, and hardship.
At 9:36 a.m. on Tuesday, the protest began at the Labour House Headquarters in Abuja.
Unions participating in the demonstration include the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, the FCT Council, the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, the Nigeria Union of Teachers, and the Construction Workers’ Union, among others.
Ene Obi, former Nigeria Country Director for ActionAid, and Omoyele Sowore, presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, were also present at the national protest.
The demonstrators were seen holding placards with phrases like “#End Poverty and Hunger,” Support Local Industries,” “Fix Local Refineries End Subsidy,” and “#End Naira Devaluation; Tax the Rich, Subsidise the Poor” to express their concerns about the country’s current economic suffering.
Addressing journalists before the rally began, NLC President Joe Ajaero stated, “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 know where it is pinching us.”
A number of rallies have taken place across the country over Nigerians’ rising living costs.
On February 8, the NLC and the Trade Union Congress issued a 14-day nationwide strike notice to the government for failing to implement the agreements struck on October 2 following the elimination of the fuel subsidy.
The Federal Government’s failure to keep its pledges following Labour’s 14-day ultimatum will be met by a two-day national demonstration.
Organised labour began rallying its members last week Monday for a statewide protest on February 27 and 28 over the country’s cost of living problem.
However, less than 24 hours after the scheduled protests, the TUC stated that it was not a part of the NLC-announced rallies, stating that the decision to protest on February 27 and 28 was not made collectively by both unions.
The Federal Government organised a last-minute conference on Monday night to avert the planned nationwide demonstration, which ended in an impasse.
