Hardship: NLC mobilises for protest despite FG’s warning
We’ll deal with troublemakers – Police Shun demonstration – Afenifere
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Sunday maintained its earlier stance that it would not back down on its planned nationwide protest against hardship billed to be held on Tuesday and Wednesday.
This is coming amidst a series of warnings from the various government quarters to the congress that it should shelve the action in the interest of peace.
The Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, said the organised labour would be contemptuous if it embarked on the protest, citing two ex parte orders previously granted by the National Industrial Court.
But NLC and some civil society organisations maintained that no level of blackmail, threats or warning from the government would make them back down on their decision, assuring that the protest would be peaceful.
In an interview with Daily Trust, the Head of Information at NLC headquarters, Benson Upah, confirmed that members of the congress were mobilising across the states, insisting that they have been working through the weekends to fine-tune how peaceful the protest would be.
“What I can tell you is that mobilisation is going on with high spirits. We commenced mobilisation on February 22 when the ultimatum expired,” Upah told our correspondent in a telephone interview,” Ajaero said.
He alleged that the movement had uncovered a series of plots that have already been put in place by the federal government to thwart its nationwide protest, insisting that members of the movement remained undaunted.
We’ll deal troublemakers – Police
with
The police in Lagos and Bauchi States yesterday vowed to deal decisively with anyone or group of persons found to be involved in activities that will lead to a breakdown of law and order in any part of the metropolis.
Protest not contempt of court – Falana
Human rights lawyer and counsel to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Femi Falana (SAN), said the planned protest by labour was not in contempt of court.
He said the failure of the federal government to implement the terms reached in the 16-point memorandum of understanding reached out of court forced the union to hold a nationwide peaceful protest on August 2, 2023.
Shun demonstration – Afenifere group, Afenifere, has asked the people of the South West region to ignore the call for a nationwide protest as the economic hardship bites harder under President Bola Tinubu-led federal government.
Reuben Fasoranti, leader of the group, in a statement on Sunday, said Nigerians must come to terms with the realities of the national challenges that President Tinubu’s administration was striving to resolve.
The Ohanaeze Ndigbo had also directed the Igbos all over the country not to join any protest against hardship.