• Labour protest needless, says Presidency
• Tinubu pledges to protect vulnerable citizens
• ‘Palliatives not enough, Nigerians need social security bill’

 
After a well-mobilised nationwide protest that rocked major cities over the high cost of living and hardship yesterday, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has suspended action erstwhile scheduled to end today.
   
The NLC disclosed the suspension of protest in a communiqué issued after a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, which reviewed the execution of the first day of the nationwide protest, stating that it achieved an overwhelming success and thus, attained the key objectives of the two-day protest on the first day.  
   
The communiqué, which was signed by NLC President, Joe Ajaero, and Acting General Secretary, Ismail Bello, however, stated that a nationwide action would continue today with simultaneous press conferences across all the states of the federation by the state councils of the Congress, including the national headquarters. 

   
The union added that it would reaffirm and extend the seven days ultimatum by another seven days, which now expires on March 13, 2024, within which the Federal Government is expected to implement all the earlier agreements of October 2, 2023, and other demands presented in its letter during yesterday’s protest.  
   
It further said it would meet and decide on the next lines of action if, on the expiration of the 14 days ultimatum, the government refuses to comply with the demands as contained in the agreement. 
   
The NLC had ordered a two-day nationwide protest to join Nigerians in demonstrating outrage over the massive suffering and hunger facing the masses and workers as a result of the policies of the government to hike the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and float the naira.    
   
In Abuja, the NLC president, Ajaero, presented their list of demands to the National Assembly. NLC called for the complete execution of welfare measures, initiatives to generate employment, immediate subsidies to farmers to enhance agricultural production, and the restoration of the four refineries, among other appeals.
   
While the NEC commended Nigerians “for trooping out in large numbers to peacefully demonstrate their outrage on the hardship imposed by the government and its twin altars – the IMF and the World Bank, it also appreciated Nigerian workers and masses for sending a strong message to the powers that be on their united resolve to demand accountability from those who occupy positions of leadership in our nation.”  
   
However, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, has criticised NLC for staging a nationwide protest. Ngelale labelled the protest as unnecessary during an interview with TVC yesterday.
   
According to the presidential spokesperson, the Federal Government has already commenced efforts to alleviate the hardship. Ngelale, however, cautioned the labour unions against exploiting situations in the country to pursue a political agenda.
   
He said: “Any labour union that is speaking to the concerns of Nigerian families, the pains that are being felt by our people, is absolutely free to do so. It is right that Nigerians speak up in difficult situations.
   
“And the government has been doing everything possible to alleviate those concerns. But we also want to separate the legitimate concerns being expressed by some of the labour unions from people trying to leverage some of the situations in the country to achieve a political agenda.
   
“We have seen the Trade Union Congress (TUC) pull out of the purported nationwide protest. We have seen the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) pull out of the protest. There is no unanimity behind what NLC is trying to do. I believe all of the legitimate concerns being raised by the unions are being tackled by the administration of President Bola Tinubu.”
   
In the same vein, President Tinubu said his administration is providing safety nets to protect Nigerians worst-hit by the economic reforms. Tinubu cited the recent resumption of the social investment programmes as announced by the Minister of Finance, Mr Wale Edun, after Monday’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, who said the six-week hiatus had enhanced its operations.
   
“These programmes will, therefore, ensure that the burden of the subsidy removal is shared equitably and that the most vulnerable among us are protected,” Tinubu said when he gave the keynote address at the seventh Nigeria International Energy Summit at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja, on Tuesday.
   
Upon assuming office nine months ago, the Tinubu administration discontinued subsidies on petrol, which, he said, would save the government monies for infrastructural expansion. He also unified the foreign exchange rates, moves that have sparked instability in the value of the naira and heaped hardship on Nigerians as food prices continue to soar.
   
However, the President insists that the country is on a recovery path. Addressing participants at the summit, Tinubu, represented by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said: “The decision to remove petroleum subsidy is a challenging one. But it is a step we must all take to secure our energy future and foster economic growth and development.”
   
But Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr Femi Falana, has countered the government’s position, saying the provision of palliatives is not enough to address the economic challenges facing Nigerians.
   
Falana spoke at the Lagos State House of Assembly, Alausa, where protesting NLC members presented a letter of their grievances to the lawmakers, after marching from Ikeja under bridge. He said the government should rather address youth unemployment, and called on the state to put in place a law on social security.
   
“We want a bill for social security in the state, and if Lagos can start, other states will be compelled to follow suit. It is no longer enough to give palliatives; it must be on a permanent basis, and that is why a social security bill must be passed by the house in the interest of our people,” he said.
   
He commended NLC for insisting on enforcing their rights to assembly for a peaceful protest, saying the move was a major victory in the annals of the nation’s history.
   
He also kicked against the implementation of the Steve Oronsaye report, saying that many workers would be thrown into the labour market. Mentioning that Nigeria has about 1,316 ministries and parastatals, he asked where do the government aim to start implementing the policy, because when the report was made, there were only about 800 ministries and parastatals.  
   
The protesters had gathered around the Ikeja area as early as 7.30 a.m. to meet heavy security presence, comprising the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) and the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) officers.
   
Brandishing placards with inscriptions such as “#EndHardship,” “#End Hunger and Poverty Now,” “Stop the IMF imposed policies and affliction destroying our nation and making many Nigerians poor,” “Buy local products, create jobs,” “Stop the looting, tax the rich and subsidize the poor,” “Stop Poverty and Hunger,” and “Petrol Subsidy is a Fraud. Fix the refineries now”, they chanted solidarity songs and marched to the state’s House of Assembly.
   
The Lagos State Council Chairman, NLC, Funmi Sessi, said that the protest was against the economic hardship faced by workers and Nigerians at large.
 
“The price of foodstuffs has gone beyond the reach of Nigerians; the price of rice and beans has gone up as well. The monthly salary of workers no longer takes them home, not to talk about taking care of their families. We are marching to the State House of Assembly to present a letter; this protest is purely organised by the NLC, with the support of some affiliate bodies,” she said.
 
She commended the security operatives led by the Commissioner of Police of Lagos State, Adegoke Fayoade, who was physically present to lead the team to ensure hoodlums did not hijack the protest.
   
Speaker of the Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, who was represented by the Majority Leader of the House, Noheem Adams, commended the labour movement for the peaceful conduct of the protest.
   
Addressing the protesters, he recalled that the Assembly had recently raised concern over the state of the economy and passed a motion calling on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to act.
   
“We are sure that things will get back in shape hopefully. Lagos is one of the safest states in the country and the Lagos Assembly is seriously pushing for state police,” he noted while urging them to guide against a hijack of the protest by miscreants.  
   
Speaking earlier, NLC President, Ajaero, lamented the unreadiness of the Federal Government to meet the agreement reached with labour in the aftermath of the removal of petrol and forex subsidies, which are largely responsible for the runaway inflation as well as astronomical costs of living amid stagnant wages.
   
Ajaero argued that protest is a symbolic signal that the Nigerian people are unhappy with the rising hardship in the country. He insisted that the level of hunger in Nigeria requires urgent intervention and not mere mouthing ‘motivational palliatives.’ 
   
“This is not to use theoretical or rhetoric solutions. A set of serious interventions must be taken by the government immediately to save the citizens from death and the country from civil unrest. Across Nigeria, the murmuring and dissenting voice of displeasure is growing stronger by the day. It will be unfortunate if the government allow the voices in the shadows to snowball into mob action. Our rally today is a kind of early warning to what may come if the government hesitate to act now,” he added.
   
Receiving the demand letter from the protesting workers, the Chairman Senate Committee on Labour and Productivity, Senator Diket Plang, said the demand of NLC and its civil society organisations’ allies will be discussed immediately at the plenary of both the Senate and House of Representatives. He promised that the Senate President would transmit the position of workers to President Tinubu, and ensure urgent action is taken to end hardship.