The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has warned the federal and state governments of the possibility of the domino effect of the Arab spring in Nigeria, if they refuse to yield to the demands of Nigerians on various proposed policies.<\/p>\n
The union also hinged its argument on the insistence to remove oil subsidy, sack workers through the merging of parastatals, reintroduce toll gates fees, among others.<\/p>\n
President of the NLC, Comrade Abdulwahed Omar, in a statement issued Tuesday called on the Federal Government to check the use of force on defenceless civilians in the country.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe NLC warns Governments at all levels that any decision to impose the peace of the grave yard in the country will lead to unfathomed consequences. We need to remind our political leaders that what led to the North African uprising and the now fabled Arab spring which swept through 21 countries was a Tunisian fruit seller who immolated himself. Nigeria is not immune to popular uprising and its consequences,\u201d he warned.<\/p>\n
He expressed the disappointment at congress in the government of Lagos state, especially by the government\u2019s justification that the protest was politically motivated because a local Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader was amongst the protesters.<\/p>\n
Omar called on Governor Fashola to suspend the toll collection until the outcome of the Appeal Count case on the issue and to ensure the release of those detained over the protest. He also called on Fashola to investigate the use of thugs on the protesters.<\/p>\n
\u201c… If the President fails to take immediate action he would be sending a message to the populace that the use of naked force against Lekki residents is a mere dress rehearsal before his administration descends on the Nigerian populace who are bound to resist the unpatriotic removal of oil subsidy,\u201d Omar urged.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, labour leaders were supposed to meet with President Goodluck Jonathan last night over the removal of oil subsidy. The meeting, which was supposed to be held last week Tuesday, was rescheduled due to the absence of executive officers of the Trade Union Congress (TUC).<\/p>\n
The NLC executive officers already met Tuesday afternoon to discuss the meeting with the President.<\/p>\n
This is as it also condemned the use of force on residents of Lekki, Lagos state, who were protesting the introduction of three toll gates mounted in their community last Saturday. <\/p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has warned the federal and state governments of the possibility of the domino effect of the Arab spring in Nigeria, if they refuse to yield to the demands of Nigerians on various proposed policies. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18948","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard"],"yoast_head":"\n