Nigeria Labour Congress members have taken to the streets in Lagos State to protest against the prevailing economic difficulties.
They are also demonstrating against the government’s alleged failure to enact the agreements made between both parties on October 2, 2023, after the removal of the fuel subsidy.
The choice was made after the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum given to the Federal Government to enforce measures addressing the widespread suffering.
The deadlock in last night’s meeting between the federal government and the NLC resulted in the union’s determination to commence the protest.
In large numbers, NLC members converged at the Ikeja underbridge, engaging in singing and dancing, as they urged the government to heed their demands.
The protest is expected to continue tomorrow.
Also in Abuja, the Nigeria Labour Congress and other related unions have commenced their protest in Abuja over the high cost of living, inflation, insecurity, and hardship in the country.
The protesters were seen wielding placards with inscriptions such as “#End Poverty and Hunger. Support Local Industries#,” “Fix Local Refineries End Subsidy#;” “#End Naira Devaluation; Tax the Rich Subsidise the poor#” to make their grievances known on the current economic hardship across the country.
“We are here for a rally so that Mr President will know how Nigerians feel and know where it is pinching us.”
There have been a series of protests across the country over the cost of living among Nigerians.
Hundreds of protesters led by the Nigerian Labour Congress on Tuesday stormed the streets of Jos, the Plateau State capital.
The protesters who gathered at the Secretariat Flyover bridge lamented the economic hardship and insecurity being faced by Nigerians in the state and other parts of the country.
Describing the situation as unbearable, the protesters called on the Federal Government to act quickly and save Nigerians from further suffering.
They also demanded an end to the security challenge in the country.
The state Chairman of the NLC, Eugene Mangji, who led the protests said, “We are not happy, Nigerians are not happy over the situation in the country that has brought untold hardship and suffering of the citizens which started immediately after the removal of the oil subsidy.
” It started as a joke and suddenly, the price of petrol which was initially sold at N197 jumped to N530 and then to N670. Today, petrol is sold at more than N700.
“Imagine that we are not up to one year in the life of this present administration and Nigerians are experiencing this kind of thing. The exchange rate has also gone to almost N2,000 per dollar and since everything is dependent on the exchange rate, prices of goods and services have also gone up beyond the reach of ordinary Nigerians. Even the students in higher institutions are not finding it easy at all.
“Nigerians are crying over the situation and we are not left out as Labour and we are calling on the Federal Government to arrest the ugly situation quickly, including the security challenge before they get out of control.”
