Insecurity and Economic Woes Drive Workers to Take to the Streets, Police Warn Against Violence

Police authorities have emphasized their stance against any violence during the planned two-day demonstration announced by organized labor to protest the hardships and high cost of living.

The Riot Act was delivered on Sunday as the Nigeria Labour Congress set new conditions ahead of the minimum wage negotiation starting today (Monday).

The police issued this warning amidst concerns raised by the African Development Bank about potential social unrest in Nigeria, Ethiopia, Angola, and Kenya due to rising fuel and commodity prices.

Valid View Network reports that the bank’s macroeconomic report for 2024 projects a rebound in Africa’s economy to 3.8%, but it cautions that currency depreciation or subsidy removal in these countries could lead to internal conflicts.

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The Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress gave a two-week ultimatum to the government to implement agreements on palliatives for workers before commencing nationwide protests on February 27 and 28.

The protests come in the wake of widespread worker grievances, including erosion of purchasing power and insecurity.

The NLC President, Joe Ajaero, stated that the protests were decided upon after assessing the state of the economy and security matters during an emergency meeting.

Ahead of the protests, various state police commands have engaged with labor leaders to ensure peaceful demonstrations.

However, workers across several states have expressed dissatisfaction with the economic situation and the lack of adequate palliatives from their respective governments.

While some states have implemented measures to alleviate the economic burden on workers, such as special palliative allowances and pay rises, others have yet to fully address the concerns of their workforce.

The situation underscores the ongoing struggle to balance economic stability with the welfare of workers amidst rising costs of living and policy changes.