From Victor Osula, Abuja
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), on Tuesday, led thousands of protesters to the National Assembly in Abuja, amid hunger and economic hardship in the country.
Labour kicked off its two-day nationwide protest on Tuesday, in Abuja, Lagos, Plateau , Kogi, Bayelsa and other parts of the country.
Fearing a break down of law and order, the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Kayode Egbetokun yesterday directed adequate protection and security of the protesters, warning impostors against hijacking of the exercise.
On Tuesday, security agencies were stationed around the various entries and exits of the National Assembly, particularly the Federal Secretariat axis, for orderliness of the exercise
Led by the NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, the protesters chanted songs while displaying placards of various inscriptions.
Earlier, Ajaero told newsmen in Abuja that the protest is about the level of hunger and failure to implement a new minimum wage.
Ajaero, who accused the federal government of failure to implement the proposals put forward by the NLC following the removal of fuel subsidy, said: “There’s absolute hunger, and we’re told not to speak out; should we die of hunger?. This protest is about minimum wage and hunger. What of those not working? When will minimum wages be completed and implemented? What will be the minimum wage that will end hunger?
“The United Nations said the poorest man should be fed on $2 daily. If you have a family of six people, you spend $12 daily and $360 monthly. This translates to about N700,000. This is on feeding alone; then there’s transportation, accommodation, and medical.
“There was hunger in the land, but not this bad until deregulation. We made propositions after deregulation, but they were not implemented. If transportation issues were solved immediately after deregulation, 50 percent of the problem would have been solved.
“Even when you process garri in the village, you need to transport it to town, and you add the expenses incurred to the cost. The moment PMS went up, there were issues.”
