Fuel Subsidy Removal: Anambra, Oyo States Participate In Nationwide Protest

The Anambra State Chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), on Wednesday, joined her counterpart across the country in a peaceful protest over the hardship in the country as a result of the fuel subsidy removal.

Presenting his address, the State Chairman of NLC, Comrade Humphrey Emeka Nwafor, emphasized that the protest was to notify the present administration about the tough times Nigerians are going through.

According to Nwafor, “the organised labour in Anambra State under my leadership, are joining the national body to send the message to the Federal Government.

“Other Nigerians should equally raise their voices against the current economic status of the country.

“The Federal Government should not allow private companies to determine the price increase of petroleum products for Nigerians, when we have our regulatory agency. We are not accepting the N8,000 palliative.

“We call on President Tinubu to reverse all the anti-policies he has put in place for the sake of the poor masses.

Comrade Nwafor noted that the protest match was a wakeup call to the Federal Government to do the needful.

Also in Oyo state South west Nigeria, labour unions, in compliance with the directive from the National Secretariat of the Nigeria Labour Congress, embarked on a peaceful protest in Ibadan, the capital city.

Wednesday makes it the third day the workers in the state, under the aegis of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), and the Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP), have embarked on protests in the state.

The Unions had, on Monday and Tuesday, grounded government activities in the state by locking all the entrance gates to the Oyo State Government Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, and ensuring that early birds were chased out to ensure total compliance, while refusing all entreaties, insisting that they would not listen to any proxy but the governor himself.

Their six-point agitation against the Oyo State Government hinges on non-remittance of staff deductions for about six months, release of 2021, 2022 & 2023 promotions, payment of gratuity to retirees, and upward review of pension and arrears of pension, among others.

However, Wednesday’s protest saw the unions taking their demands and agitations to another level, as by 7AM, the workers had begun to assemble at the main entrance, as well as other three entrances to the State Secretariat, where they ensured that the gates were firmly locked.

After singing and dancing for a few hours at the main entrance, the protesters moved in a convoy of several vehicles, led by a song-blaring semi-articulated truck, across major areas of the capital city where the Union leaders addressed the people, calling for their support and assuring them that the protest would force the hands of government to do the needful.

The protesters were joined by Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) comprising Joint Action Front (JAF), Alliance for Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond (ASCAB) and the Coalition of Revolution (CORE), who had earlier staged a protest in front of the University of Ibadan.

While a large number of members of the unions were on the rally, some others, especially aged pensioners, stayed back at the Secretariat gate where light refreshments were served some of the protesters as they awaited the return of those who embarked on the walk.

However, members of the NLC were seen carrying placards with different inscriptions such as ‘End fuel price increase, Fix our local refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna, No to Jumbo pay for politicians, TUC: stronger together, stop naira devaluation, we cannot bear the suffering of any more, pay University workers their salaries, 8,000 palliative to households insult to Nigerians, among others

A combined team of security operatives were also seen in various patrol vans accompanying the protesters, as heavy security presence was also noticed with many patrol vans stationed in strategic places in both states.