Strike: NLC Calls For Peaceful Protests

Mr. Owei Lakemfa, Acting Secretary-General of the NLC, has called on members of the union and its affilliate organisations to remain calm and peaceful while protesting the removal of fuel subsidy.

NLC and its affilliate unions embarked on a nationwide strike on Monday over the removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government on January 1.

Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja, Lakemfa said that the strike was generally peaceful and urged the people to avoid acts of violence.

“Nigerians are very peaceful people. Our experience is that people do not become violent during strike until they are provoked by the Police.

Lakemfa, who said the Federal Government had not invited labour to dialogue since the commencement of the strike on Monday, urged the government to take steps “to reduce the tension in the country.”

“We met with the Senate on Monday and conveyed the opinion of the Nigerian people to its leadership.”

Asked what would happen after the strike, he said: “I don’t know what will happen at the end of the day; we don’t know how it will end,” he said.

NAN reports that as the strike entered its second day, members of the unions in Abuja marched from Berger Junction to Utako and other parts of the city, while motorists put green leaves on their vehicles to show solidarity with labour.

The head of the police team monitoring the protests, CSP Usman Umar, told NAN that the protests in the FCT had been generally peaceful.

“Our duty is to prevent a breakdown of law and order and that is why we are here.

“I want to assure members of the public that no policeman will use arms or teargas on the protesters. We only want to maintain law and order,” he added.