The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has disclosed that its leadership and members were threatened and coerced into abandoning their two-day nationwide protest that was scheduled to be held in response to the mounting costs and economic hardships that Nigerians are facing. However, the NLC claims that it proceeded with the protest on Tuesday in spite of the threats.
In addition, the union received evidence that multiple agents were being used to incite violence along demonstration routes, which is one of the reasons they had to call off the second day of rallies, according to NLC President Joe Ajaero, who made this known at a news conference on Wednesday.
Recall that the NLC had announced a two-day statewide mass protest for February 27 and 28, 2024, in response to the increasing costs and economic hardships that Nigerians were experiencing following the elimination of the country’s petrol subsidy in May 2023.
The NLC, however, announced the suspension of its scheduled second-day demonstration after Tuesday’s successful protest across several state capitals and large cities, claiming the protest’s goals had been met on the first day.
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Ajaero provided additional context for the situation on Wednesday by revealing that the NLC had strategically decided to cancel the demonstration on the second day but add that the National Executive Council of the NLC would announce the next course of action if the federal government does not abide by the union’s requests within the new deadline.
“We were threatened with all manners of consequences that would be meted on us if we went ahead,” Ajaero said during Wednesday’s press briefing.
“We were, however, not perturbed as lifting the heavy yoke of suffering upon Nigerian workers and masses left us with no option than to press on.”
“God is, however, always a step ahead of the enemies of the workers and the Nigerian people. That was also one of the reasons we had to restructure on the second day of the nationwide protest,” he added.
“You may have noticed that almost all the routes to our office have been militarised this morning. It took a lot of time to access our office. These are not things you expect from a democratic society.
“We want to reiterate that if the government fails to comply within the specified time frame, the NEC will convene again to decide on the next line of action.
He continued, “The NLC is unwavering in its commitment to upholding and advancing the rights of Nigerian labourers and the oppressed masses, who will not bow to intimidation.”
