The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has insisted that its planned nationwide protest scheduled for December 17 will go ahead as announced, citing rising insecurity and its damaging impact on the economy and citizens’ welfare.
The NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, stated this on Sunday in Gombe shortly after a courtesy visit to the Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum and Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya.
“I am not sure you have gotten any contrary view that it is not holding. The protest is to help this country and to call attention to the effect of insecurity,” Ajaero said.
He noted that insecurity was weakening Nigeria’s ability to attract both local and foreign investors, stressing that persistent banditry and kidnappings were hurting workers and the general population.
According to him, many workers have become victims of abduction, while schoolchildren and teachers are increasingly targeted, citing the recent killing of a teacher during an attack on a school in Kebbi State.
“Many workers are being kidnapped on a daily basis. People are killed. The children that are kidnapped are children of workers. Government must help fish out the perpetrators,” he said.
Ajaero explained that the protest was aimed at awakening government to its responsibilities in addressing insecurity, economic hardship and other challenges confronting the country, adding that the action was intended to strengthen, not undermine, the government.
He called on Nigerians to join in condemning kidnapping and banditry, describing such acts as alien to the nation’s value system, and demanded an end to the spate of attacks across the country.
The NLC had earlier, on December 8, announced plans for the nationwide protest, condemning recent attacks on schools and calling on the Federal Government to urgently secure educational institutions, especially in vulnerable areas.
