Workers under the umbrella of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) converged at Labour House on Wednesday to protest rising insecurity and economic hardships across the country.
The protest comes despite a meeting between President Bola Tinubu and NLC leaders on Tuesday night, aimed at averting the demonstration. NLC President Joe Ajaero told journalists that there was no agreement to halt the planned protest.
Sources indicate that NLC leaders are currently holding discussions with a committee formed during the late-night meeting with the President and the Governors’ Forum leadership. Workers at the secretariat waited anxiously, as some union officials maintained that the protest would go ahead regardless of the outcome.
Among those present at the NLC headquarters were Omoyele Sowore and other members of the Revolution Now Movement, drawing attention to the intersection of labour activism and political involvement.
The NLC is demanding the creation of a special fund to rehabilitate and compensate citizens, including workers, affected by insecurity. The union also called for Section 2 of the 1999 Constitution, which mandates the government to ensure citizens’ security and welfare, to be made legally enforceable.
In addition, the congress is advocating for reforms to strengthen an independent, citizen-focused electoral body, ensure timely prosecution and punishment of election offenders, and curb the militarisation of elections in Nigeria.
The presence of Omoyele Sowore, a political figure, at the NLC meeting has sparked discussion on the role of politicians in labour movements. Readers are invited to share their views in the comment section.
