The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has raised the alarm over an alleged plot by “unscrupulous agencies and desperate political hirelings” to infiltrate and violently disrupt its planned nationwide protest.
Last week, the congress declared a nationwide protest for December 17 over the “degenerating security situation” across the country.
In a press statement issued on Tuesday, Benson Upah, NLC acting general secretary, described the demonstration as a “peaceful National Day of Protest and mourning” in response to the escalating insecurity, kidnappings, abductions, and killings across the country.
However, Upah said the labour body had received “credible and disturbing intelligence” from its networks indicating that armed thugs would be deployed to attack protesters, cause mayhem, and provide a pretext for repression.
“Let this be understood by those who occupy the corridors of power and the purveyors of violence that the Congress is now officially aware of their plot to use armed thugs to attack peaceful protesters, cause mayhem, and create a pretext for violent repression,” the statement reads.
“Call off your hoodlums, as any attack on peacefully protesting workers will be considered a direct declaration of war on the entire Nigerian working class and its allies.
“The police, having been informed of our protests and its dynamics must act to protect the democratic rights of citizens to freely assemble and express themselves.”
The union called on the police to protect citizens’ democratic rights to assemble and express themselves, adding that the rights must be “respected and guaranteed”.
The NLC urged workers, the unemployed, students, traders, and victims of insecurity not to be intimidated or provoked, stressing that the protest must remain “peaceful, disciplined, and massive”.
The statement said the union’s national executive council (NEC) has passed a resolution to declare an “immediate, comprehensive, and indefinite nationwide strike” if any protester is harmed, leading to a total shutdown of production, services, and the economy.
