Members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), yesterday, protested festering security challenges in the country ahead of the Christmas and New Year festive period.
The protest, which commenced as early as 8am across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), was led by the President of NLC, Joe Ajaero, in the nation’s capital.
Accompanied by the former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, during the protest, Ajaero said the demand for improved security and better welfare was non-negotiable.
One of our correspondents reports that the protesters who first demonstrated at the federal secretariat, later moved towards the Federal Ministry of Finance as part of the action under heavy security. Daily Trust observed that personnel of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), as well as the Department of State Services (DSS), were deployed to monitor the procession.
The protest came less than 24 hours after the labour leaders held a late-night meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the presidential villa to discuss labour-related issues, including security challenges affecting workers. Speaking before the demonstration started, Ajaero said, ‘There was nothing on the ground to show that the protest won’t go as planned.
‘Like I said earlier, Nigerians, especially Nigerian workers, are currently confronted with the worst level of crisis of survival ever experienced in the history of our nation, not during the civil war and not during the years of austerity measures.
‘One of the key components, and indeed its pivot, is the crisis of financial security. The Nigerian worker is at the bottom of the ladder comparatively with other African countries, including war-ravaged countries like Somalia and Sudan.’
How it went across states
In Lagos, protesters converged at the Ikeja Underpass, carrying placards and chanting slogans calling on the federal government to end insecurity.
In Enugu, the demonstration was led by the state NLC Chairman, Comrade Fabian Nwigbo, who expressed concern over the deteriorating security situation in the country.
Nwigbo lamented the rising cases of violent crimes and kidnappings, urging the government to take decisive steps to safeguard lives and property. On his part, the Chairman, Kano State Chapter of the NLC, Comrade Kabiru Inuwa, called on President Tinubu to, as a matter of urgency, find a lasting solution to the persistent insecurity in the country.
Inuwa said the issue of insecurity had thrown Nigerians into untold hardship, hence the need for a coordinated effort between the president, state governors and security apparatus in order to surmount the challenges.
Meanwhile, Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to sustaining peace, security and cordial relations with the organised labour.
Chairman of the NLC in Bauchi, Dauda Shuaibu, called on the government to expose those sponsoring insecurity and prosecute them.
In Niger, the protesters demanded the immediate rescue of citizens in captivity, including the pupils of St Mary’s Primary and Secondary School, Papiri, who were kidnapped recently.
Addressing the House of Assembly, the state’s NLC Chairman, Idrees Abdulkareem Lafene, said the NLC would continue to pressurise the stakeholders to find a lasting solution to the security challenges.
The Sokoto State chapter of the congress suspended its earlier planned street protest over worsening insecurity and resolved to hold special prayers for peace and safety across the state.
The Plateau Chairman of the NLC, Eugene Manji, said that with the Christmas season approaching, threats of fresh attacks were already emerging.
He added that while acknowledging the place of prayer, it was insufficient to tackle the current insecurity in the country.
In Calabar, the NLC declared that workers in Nigeria were no longer safe, even within their workplaces.
The state’s Chairman of the NLC, Comrade Greg Olayi, said many Nigerians could no longer live or work in safety, citing attacks on farmers in their fields, the abduction of school children from classrooms and increasing threats faced by travellers on major highways.
The NLC identified Zamfara State as the state that is worst hit by insecurity, saying it has crippled all sectors of human endeavour.
The state’s council Chairperson, Comrade Sani Halliru, said, ‘Zamfara State is blessed with vast land which, if all is normal, we can feed the nation considering how strong we are in mining, farming and agricultural production, as well as due to our abundant natural and mineral resources.’
The Kwara State Council of NLC warned that the worsening insecurity across the country was threatening livelihoods and placing the national economy under severe strain.
The state’s NLC Chairman, Comrade Muritala Saheed Olayinka, lamented that the spate of violent attacks and criminal activities had forced many farmers to abandon their farmlands, while ordinary Nigerians now lived in fear.
By Idowu Isamotu (Abuja), Abdullateef Aliyu and Eugene Agha (Lagos), Salim Ibrahim (Kano), Hassan Ibrahim (Bauchi), Abubakar Akote (Minna), Abubakar Auwwal (Sokoto), Dickson Adama (Jos); Eyo Charles (Calabar); Abdullahi Chakwa (Gusau), Raphael Ogbonnaiye (Ado-Ekiti) and Mumini Abdulkareem (Ilorin)
Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).
