Workers in Ebonyi, Anambra, Rivers, Edo, C’river protest against economic hardship
From Nnamdi
Akpa ( Abakaliki), Osiberoha Osibe ( Awka), Obinna
Nwaoku ( Port Harcourt), Michael Egbejule ( Benin City) and Tina Agosi Todo ( Calabar)
TAHE Nigeria Labour Congress NLC, Ebonyi State chapter, yesterday, joined their counterparts across the country to protest against the current economic hardship in the Country. The protest was peaceful as members of the union came out in their large numbers and marched around Abakaliki. Security agents were seen stationed at strategic locations to safeguard life and property.
The state NLC Chairman, Prof. Oguguo Egwu, said the prices of things have increased, yet nothing is being considered for workers and the entire population. LSO, the organised labour in Anambra State, yesterday, joined their counterparts across the country to protest the biting hunger, poverty, devaluation of naira, high inflation, obnoxious and anti- workers’ policies and programmes of the federal and state governments. The workers, who gathered near Ekwueme Square, Awka, the state capital, sang solidarity songs as they marched through the Awka - Enugu Expressway to the Agu- Awka Government House.
They armed themselves with placards of various inscriptions some of which read: “Stop the Hunger, Lower Food Prices,” “Nigerians Say No to Poverty and Hunger,” “End Insecurity, Create Jobs and Economic Prosperity,” Stop Subsidising the Rich, Let the Poor Breath,” and “Stop the Collapse of Industries.”
IMILARLY, workers in Rivers State participated in the nationwide protest in Port Harcourt amid tight
Ssecurity.
The workers marched along Aba Road and later converged at the Government House.
The state NLC Chairman, Alex Agwagwu, addressed the Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who was represented by the head of Civil Service, Dr. Goerge Nwaeke. Speaking, Agwanwor said: “This protest is basically to call to action the Federal Government to address and tackle the crisis of survival in the land. And we ask that something must be done now.”
Meanwhile, affiliate unions of the Trade Union Congress ( TUC) in the state were absent, following their national leadership directives not to participate in the two- day nationwide protest. Reacting, Fubara expressed confidence in President Tinubu to address the concerns raised by the organised labour and alleviate their apprehensions.
HE Edo State NLC was not left out yesterday for the nationwide protest in Benin City over the high cost of livT
Oing in the country, complaining that Nigerians are suffering and living in poverty as a result of the bad economy.
The protesting NLC and its affiliates marched through the ever busy Kings Square, Sapele Road and to the Edo State Government House to present their demands to Governor Godwin Obaseki. N its own part, the Cross River State chapter of the NLC has accused the government of Bola Tinubu of creating obnoxious policies that are detrimental to the people. They made the accusation during the nationwide protest in Calabar.
The state NLC members, in their numbers, took to the streets of Calabar, chanting solidarity songs, carrying different placards with inscriptions such as “Our take home pay must take us home, let the poor breath;” ‘ We can no longer feed our families, let the poor breath,” Nigeria is dying, Tinubu this was not what you promised us,” among others.”