Apprehension as FG, labour fail to reach agreement

There is apprehension as the Federal Government and the labour movement in Nigeria failed to reach agreement to stave off the planned nationwide protest over removal of fuel subsidy.

After the marathon meeting by the Federal Government and the officials of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and the Trade Union Congress, TUC, the Labour were not persuaded to call of the planned nationwide protest for Wednesday.

This is in spite of the measures rolled out in President Bola Tinubu’s national broadcast on Tuesday.

However, in Kwara State, a peace meeting was convened by the Commissioner of Police, Kwara State Police Command, Ebunrotimi Adelesi, with labour and student unions in the state.

The meeting is part of efforts by the police commissioner to maintain peace in the state, especially in respect of the planned protest to be embarked upon by the labour, trade, and student unions in the state on Wednesday, over the socio-economic crisis created by fuel subsidy removal by the federal government.

Present at the meeting were the Director of State Services and Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC.

Discussions centred on how the protest could be peaceful and rancor-free if eventually it holds, due to the fragile nature of the state of security in the country in general and the state in particular.

In their different contributions, both the Director DSS in the state, Mr Patrick Ikenweiwe, and Commandant NSCDC, GB Umar, urged the labour unions to put off the protest and continue with the engagement they have begun with the Federal Government.

The labour and student leaders also discussed about their readiness to cancel the protest if only their national leaders directed them to do so.

One thing that was, generally agreed upon, was that the peace and progress of the state are paramount in the minds of all.

The CP and all others at the meeting agreed to await the final decision of the meeting between the Labour leaders and the Federal Government.

Meanwhile, security arrangements have been placed across the length and breadth of the state to checkmate and mitigate any backlash that could ensue as a result of the protest if it eventually holds.

Consequently, the Commissioner of Police advised parents and guardians to call their children and wards to order and advise them against being instruments in the hands of the bad ones.

“Anyone found acting contrary to the laws of the land during the protest would be arrested and charged in court,” a statement by the spokesman of the state police command, SP Okasanmi, warned in Ilorin on Tuesday.

The meeting had in attendance Comrade Muritala Saheed, State Chairman NLC; Comrade Joseph Tunde, TUC; Alhaji Ariwola, Chairman NURTW; Alhaji Yinka Onikijipa, Chairman TREAN; Alhaji Azeez Yakubu, Chairman ORAN; Alhaji Babaelesin Abdulazeez, Sec. TOAN; and Yusuf Abdulgafar, of the University of Ilorin, who represented the student body.