Protesters led by the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, stormed the National Assembly Complex in Abuja on Tuesday to protest what they called economic hardship in the country.
The NLC and other related unions are embarking on national planned protests over the high cost of living, inflation, insecurity and hardship in the country.
The protesters were seen carrying placards such as End Poverty and Hunger, Support Local Industries, Fix Local Refineries, End Naira Devaluation; Tax the Rich Subsidise the poor, to make their grievances known on the current economic hardship across the country.
The President of the Union, Comrade Joe Ajaero handed over the letter of their demands to the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Labour, Employment, and Productivity, Senator Diket Plang.
The demands included full implementation of the welfare provisions, employment generation, immediate subsidy to farmers to boost agricultural production, fixing the four refineries among others.
In his remarks at the National Assembly, the NLC leader said that the Union is embarking on the peaceful protests because there was hunger in the Country.
He noted that the minimum wage negotiation has started but the amount was yet to be decided.
Comrade Ajaero said that the protest would serve as a signal to the federal government to immediately tackle the challenges bedeviling the country.
“We are going to meet tonight to decide the next line of action. We have decided to be peaceful because it is in our blood to be peaceful. An hungry man is an angry man. We don’t have any problem with poverty in this country. There was a period in Nigeria a President of Nigeria told us that our problem is not money, but how to spend the money, what happened to that money today?”He asked.
In his response, after receiving the letter, Senator Plang assured the protesters that the demands of the NLC would be looked into and discussed immediately.
“We feel what you feel, we feel your pains. We want to assure you that the Legislature will discuss your demands at the plenary immediately. I thank you for being peaceful. Very soon, you will see our reactions. Thank you for demonstrating peacefully. God bless you, God bless Nigeria”. He said
Also present at the gathering to address the protesters is the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Labour, productivity and employment, Honorable Adefarati Adegboyega who promised the Union that they will look into their demands immediately.
“I want to support what my distinguished Senator have said. I will take the letter to the leadership of the House. I can assure you, very soon, you will hear from us. We understand what is happening. The leadership of the National Assembly will look into your requests and demands” He assured.
The presence of some security personnel, especially the Police, were sighted, following the Force’s promise to ensure peace and order during the protests.
The unions involved are the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, FCT Council, National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, Nigeria Union of Teachers, and Construction Workers’ Union, among others.
It would be recalled that the Federal Government had earlier met with the NLC as part of efforts to avert the two-day warning strike and national protests, however an agreement was yet to be reached
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