Organized Labour Stages Peaceful Protest in Kwara, Kaduna Remains Calm

Members of the organized labour and civil society groups in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, North Central Nigeria today (Wednesday) took to the street in peaceful protest against the withdrawal of subsidy on fuel otherwise known as Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and the effect.

The Chairman, state NLC, Comrade Muritala Saheed Olayinka and his TUC counterpart, Comrade JosephTunde, led the protest.

They demanded the refurbishment of the nation’s refineries before the issue of fuel subsidy removal.

Some of the protesters under the banner of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) brandished placards with various inscriptions such as

“Repair our refineries and build additional ones, no to industrial neo-liberal slavery, masses welfare is sacrosanct, and release eight months withheld salaries of university lecturers and workers among other demands.”

The protesters took off from the state NLC Secretariat on Lajorin Road, GRA, Ilorin and intermittently made stopovers at Governor’s Office, Government House before making a detour to the office of the Deputy Governor, Kayode Alabi.

At the time of filling in this report, the state Deputy Governor was still addressing the protestants.

Earlier today, the state Commissioner of Police, Ebunoluwarotimi Adelesi was at the NLC Secretariat where she went to appeal to the protestants to go about their protests peacefully and urged them not to allow hoodlums to hijack their peaceful action.

The action of the police boss was part of her determination to ensure law and order existed in the state.

CP Adelesi led Policemen on surveillance operations during the workers’ protest as they were spotted along Ahmadu Bello Way, Ilorin, mounting surveillance.

The Police Commissioner had on Tuesday alongside other security agencies, held a meeting with Labour leaders, industrial and students unions in the state where she called and pleaded for orderliness if they later hold the planned protest march on Wednesday which eventually took place.

Meanwhile, in Kaduna state, Northwest Nigeria, residents remain calm and indoors amidst the nationwide strike declared by the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC.

Reports by our correspondent disclosed that unlike in the past when the major streets within Kaduna metropolis are busy as early as 6:00 am, today the roads are empty as only a few vehicles are seen plying them.

It is also reported that major shops in the state and the market are yet to open.

However, there is the heavy presence of security operatives deployed around the metropolis to avert attempted mischievous activities by hoodlums who might want to hijack the protest.

The organised labour union assembled at the NLC secretariat in Kaduna wearing different crested vests and caps for the procession around the metropolis.

The NLC declared a nationwide strike due to the hick in fuel pump prices as a result of the subsidy removed by the federal government.