NLC President, Joe Ajaero has led thousands of protesters to the National Assembly (NASS) to drive home their grievances against the high cost of living in the country.
By Emma Ogbuehi
In line with the nationwide rally by the organised labour and aggrieved Nigerians, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Joe Ajaero has led thousands of protesters to the National Assembly (NASS) to drive home their grievances against the high cost of living in the country.
This is despite the heavy presence of security agents seen stationed around the various entries and exits of the National Assembly particularly the Federal Secretariat axis for orderliness of the exercise.
The protesters, who were chanting solidarity songs, are expected to communicate their message to the leadership of the National Assembly.
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The final push for the protest came when a late meeting between the Federal Government and the Organised Labour on Monday night at the State House in Abuja ended in a stalemate.
“The rally goes on and it is part of their constitutional responsibility to ensure that the rally is peaceful,” said Ajaero, after the meeting with government representatives on the eve of the protest.
NLC had last week, confirmed that workers would embark on a two-day nationwide protest slated for February 27 and February 28, 2024.
Addressing the press in Abuja, Ajaero, said the decision followed an emergency National Executive Council meeting on the state of the economy and matters related to insecurity in the country.
The protest, the NLC leader noted, would commence a week after the expiration of the 14-day ultimatum it issued to the Federal Government which will expire on February 23.
On February 8, the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (NUC) gave a two-week ultimatum to the government to meet demands ranging from wage increments to improved access to public utilities and accused it of failing to uphold pledges to soften the impact of reforms.
The labour leader lamented that millions of Nigerian workers are facing hunger, erosion of purchasing power and insecurity due to reforms that drove up inflation.
Reports gathered by our correspondents showed a heavy presence of security personnel in various states of the federation, as protesters expressed their frustrations at the current nationwide hardship.