By Kamsi Anayo
The Nigeria Police Force has sealed off the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) office in Lagos State to prevent the planned nationwide protest over the hunger and hardship in the land.
An activist and national coordinator of the Education Rights Campaign (ERC), Hasssan Taiwo revealed this on Monday morning via his X handle.
He shared the picture of the armed police personnel stationed in front of NLC headquarters in the Yaba area of Lagos State.
He said, “@PoliceNG has sealed off d NLC subheadquarter at Yaba Lagos to prevent d JAF & CORE #EndHungerProtest from taking place. A few comrades are sealed off in the building.
The protest, scheduled for Feb. 27 and 28, was announced by the NLC to address economic challenges in the country following a 14-day ultimatum issued to the government.
But the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, (SAN) have urged the NLC to shelve its proposed nationwide protest.
Similarly, the Trade Union Congress has warned that the planned protest being championed by the NLC may lead to anarchy due to the tense nature of the country amid current hardship and prevailing hunger in the land.
The government warned that the NLC would be in contempt of court if the planned protest was held. But a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana has written to Fagbemi, noting that NLC would not be in contempt of court over its planned nationwide protest.
In the letter dated Feb. 24, 2024, and addressed to Fagbemi, Falana said, “We submit, without any fear of contradiction, that the proposed public protest of the NLC is not contemptuous of the two ex parte orders of the National Industrial Court. In particular, the issue of contempt does not arise as the NLC has challenged the jurisdiction of the National Industrial Court to entertain the substantive case.”
