NLC suspends protest because of threats, intimidation — Ajaero

The President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Joe Ajaero, on Wednesday, said that it could not proceed with its two-day nationwide protest due to intimidation and threats. The  Punch newspapers reported

The NLC and other related unions commenced a national planned protest on Tuesday over the high cost of living, inflation, insecurity and hardship in the country.

The protesters headed to the National Assembly, where NLC President Joe Ajaero presented a letter of demands to President Bola Tinubu, through the leadership of the National Assembly.

However, in a communiqué issued at the end of the National Executive Council meeting and signed by its President, Joe Ajaero and General Secretary, Ismail Bello, on Tuesday, the NLC suspended the nationwide planned protest slated for Wednesday.

The NLC believed that the message from the protests was effectively communicated to the government.

However, Ajaero, at a press briefing on Wednesday, said the congress was intimidated and harassed to halt the protest.

He said, “We were threatened with all manners of consequences that would be meted on us if we went ahead.

“We were, however, not perturbed, as lifting the heavy yoke of suffering upon Nigerian workers and masses left us with no option than to press on.”

The NLC president said the congress has evidence from Tuesday’s protest of the “importation of agents who were mobilised protest routes and grounds to cause violence against the peaceful protest.”