The Nigeria Labor Congress (NLC) on Wednesday held a planned protest in Abuja citing the country’s deteriorating security situation, but the action recorded a low turnout.
Protesters briefly gathered at the NLC Secretariat in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) before marching under tight security.
Officers from the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) and Department of State Services (DSS) were deployed to monitor the procession.
The NLC had said demonstrators would gather at a labor hall in Abuja before marching through the streets of the capital, but the protests began slowly.
An hour after the scheduled departure time of 7:30 a.m., only a small number of union members and activists were present.
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NLC Chairman Joe Adjaelo arrived at the Labor Hall at around 8:49am, while NLC General Secretary Benson Upa and activist Omoyel Sowore, who attended the protest at the invitation of the Labor Party leadership, also arrived early.
Some NLC members were seen wearing union-branded clothing.
Despite the small number of participants, the demonstrators then moved towards the Federal Treasury as part of the demonstration.
Leaders of various trade unions and civil society organizations were also present.
The protest came a day after President Bola Tinubu met with labor leaders at State House in Abuja in a last-ditch effort to persuade the NLC to shelve nationwide action.
After the meeting, Ajaello told reporters that organized labor would consult internally before deciding on its next course of action, but later acknowledged that the protests would continue.
Speaking after a subsequent meeting with Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma in Abuja, Ahaero said the discussions with President Tinubu focused on national insecurity and financial challenges faced by Nigerian workers.
He noted that workers who are poorly paid and poorly fed are more vulnerable to hardship and insecurity.
“The actions continued this morning and have now concluded. We retract to our members everything we discussed with them,” Ahaero said, adding that the protests would not be indefinite.
He said President Tinubu assured labor leaders that additional steps were being taken to address the insecurity and further engagement would take place in January to address outstanding issues affecting the welfare of workers.
Governor Uzodimma, who chairs the Progressive Governors Forum, said the president’s intervention had eased tensions and paved the way for regular engagement between the government and organized labor.
He added that the two countries agreed on the need for continued dialogue on national unity, improving security, economic reform and workers’ welfare.
Overall, the NLC protest took place in Abuja as planned, but with minimal participation as talks continued between the federal government and labor leaders.
