The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has clarified why it restricted members of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) from leaving the protest ground at Unity Fountain in Abuja.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, the restriction was an agreement between the unions and the command to prevent lawlessness and ensure a peaceful protest.
Adeh explained that the unions had written to protest, but agreed to limit the protest to the Unity Fountain, where representatives would address the press and subsequently submit their complaints to the appropriate authorities without marching into the streets.
She said, “They wrote to protest, but it was agreed that it will be within the unity fountain where representatives of each association will address the press and subsequently take their complaints on behalf of others to the appropriate authorities without entering the streets, thereby causing lawlessness.”
The protesters had gathered to demand four months’ withheld salaries, and planned to present letters to the Federal Ministries of Education and Labour and Employment.
The police clarification comes after reports emerged that the protesters were restricted from marching to the ministries, leading to a standoff with security personnel.
Allow people to protest, it is provided by Nigeria’s constitution. Since its a law, why would you stop the Unions to express their demand. This present administration, is clueless, and destroying the interest of the Masses we can believed with them, coz they are not ready for positive change. Open the whole borders, import foodstuffs, remove taxes, and tariffs. Revived the Nigeria refinery, diversified the economy, subsidies the agricultural equipment. So, that the farmers will produce more internally by using modern machines. And government and their officials must be reduce theirs extensive.