The Nigerian Labour Congress has begun its protest against President Bola Tinubu’s “anti-people” policies in Abuja and various states, including Lagos, Benue, Abia, Plateau, Kaduna, Kano, Rivers, Zamfara, Katsina, Cross River, Ebonyi, Enugu, Kwara, Ogun, Imo, Ondo, and Edo.
In Abuja, members of organised labour gathered at Unity Fountain for a protest. NLC and TUC officials and their members were present. Affiliated unions, including NUPENG, NUEE, NURTW, and ASUU, also joined the nationwide protest.
There were many police officers and DSS personnel at the Unity Fountain, as well as at other protest venues in different states. The NLC President, Joe Ajaero, stated that the protest will not be stopped by any government overtures and that organised labour will continue until they receive the desired response.
Ajaero said the response from the states will determine “whether the protest will be today, tomorrow, next, or indefinitely; it is not using force.” He added, “We are here to protest and make a statement that, since negotiations began, we have nothing in our hands.”
The protesters then marched to the National Assembly and the Three Arms Zone, where the labour leaders planned to deliver their messages to the government. However, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, cautioned against violent mass protests nationwide.
Tinubu removed subsidies on petrol, causing prices to skyrocket, leading to food price increases and inflation. The NLC demanded that the government reverse these policies.
The union demanded a higher minimum wage of N200,000, citing the President’s speech on subsidy removal as the cause of Nigerians’ distress. Talks on relief measures between the Presidency and the unions were unsuccessful.
The Senate and House of Representatives intervention failed as the unions felt the government’s palliatives disregarded Nigeria’s economic realities.
To appease the unions, Tinubu pledged to reassess salaries and the minimum wage. He announced a N75 billion palliative for the manufacturing sector, benefiting 75 businesses within a nine-month period from Q3 2023 to Q1 next year.
Tinubu also declared a N125 billion fund for this critical sector. He plans to invest N100 billion by March 2024 in 3000 20-seat CNG buses.
