THE Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) members in Lagos, Kaduna and Kano states have hit the streets to protest against the worsening economic crises in the country.
The protesters, who held placards with different inscriptions, bemoaned daily increases in prices of goods and the cost of living.
Some of the inscriptions on the placards read: “A bag of rice is more than our minimum wage. “We are dying,” “End Insecurity Now,” “Let the poor breathe,” and “Must we all die before you know the country is hard.”
The protesters called on the government to end hunger and poverty ravaging the nation.
They also urged President Bola Tinubu’s administration to stop the importation of petrol and fix the country’s refineries.
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In Kaduna State, labour union members proceeded from the NLC secretariat on a street protest, marching along the popular Independence Way in Kaduna, the state capital, according to the live update by Channels TV.
While calling on the government to urgently address the rising inflation, high cost of food and other items and insecurity, the protesters noted that not even a threat by the government could deter them from registering their displeasure over the poor economic situation in the country.
Similarly, some women, alongside other NLC members, gathered at the Race Course in Kano to protest against hardship.
Displaying various placards, they tasked the government to “stop robbing the poor and tax the rich.”
They also disagreed with the student loan being implemented by the Tinubu administration and urged the government to offer free education to citizens.
Besides, they called on the government to “save the naira and stop the collapse of industries.”
In Lagos State, the NLC members were on a peaceful protest in Ikeja amid heavy security presence.
The protesters joined other Nigerians to condemn the country’s precarious economic situation and challenged the government to find a lasting solution to the crisis.
The nationwide protest was at the heels of the meeting the labour had with the Federal Government on Monday, February 26, which ended in a deadlock.
The NLC president, Joe Ajaero, after the meeting with the government representatives, said, “The rally goes on and it is part of their constitutional responsibility to ensure that the rally is peaceful.”
The meeting, which was hosted by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, had in attendance the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi; Ministers of Labour, Agriculture, Finance, Budget & Planning and the Head of Service of the Federation.
Usman Mustapha is a solution journalist with International Centre for Investigative Reporting. You can easily reach him via: umustapha@icirnigeria.com. He tweets @UsmanMustapha_M