Hunger killing Nigerians in droves, Ajaero reiterates at NASS
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Some groups opted out of the hunger protest, along with the Trade Union Congress, but Oyo Governor Seyi Makinde joined the march in Ibadan in solidarity with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), whose President, Joe Ajaero, spoke blunt truth to power in Abuja at the start of the two-day uproar on Tuesday.
Ajaero led thousands of fellow protesters to the National Assembly (NASS) where he shouted through a megaphone to lawmakers and across the pavilion to Bola Tinubu in Aso Rock that Nigerians are dying of hunger caused by economic hardship.
He urged the federal government to urgently address the situation.
Even police officers who at other times would brutalise protesters, are happy with these agitators, sharing to them bottled water and biscuits to encourage them to speak for everyone – including police officers themselves who are buying at high prices from the same market as other citizens.
“We thank everyone for making this happen. Today has come to pass. They said we should not be but we are here. We are here because there is hunger in the land. History will not forgive us if we do not protest at the level of hunger in the land. It is to signal to the authorities that there is a problem in the land,” Ajaero said.
He decried the falling value of the naira, growing insecurity, and rising unemployment, among other issues.
Ajaero sought immediate measures to address the suffering, adding the NLC would decide its next line of action.
He presented a letter containing their grievances to the representative of the NASS leadership.
Senate Labour Committee Chairman Diket Plang, who accepted the letter on behalf of the NASS leadership, reiterated lawmakers are aware of the hardship and gave an assurance efforts would be made to urgently address the situation.
He promised the letter would be dispatched accordingly.
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