SSS opposes NLC’s planned protest over economic hardship

Nigeria’s secret police say they are opposed to the planned street protest by major labour unions against increased economic hardship in the country, claiming there are plans to turn the demonstration violent.

The service said they recognised the “legitimate right of the labour movement” to protest but urged the unions to shelve the plan in the interest of peace and public order.

Hunger in the land

The Nigerian Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress scheduled protests for Feb. 27 and 28 over rising prices that have pushed food and other basic needs out of the reach of millions of Nigerians.

Inflation reached 29.9 percent in January while the naira has been in a freefall, plunging to 1900 to a dollar in the parallel market. They followed the government’s haphazard removal of petrol subsidy and devaluation of the local currency.

The NLC said last week the protest would begin a week after the expiration of the 14-day ultimatum it issued to the federal government which will expire on Friday.

The union said millions of Nigerian workers were facing hunger, erosion of purchasing power and insecurity due to reforms that fuelled inflation.

“The DSS further calls on parties to pursue dialogue and negotiation rather than engaging in conducts that could heighten tensions,” the SSS said in a statement Wednesday, using its preferred acronym, DSS.

“This is more so that the Service is aware that some elements are planning to use the opportunity of the protest to foment crisis and by extension, widespread violence. The development, without doubt, will worsen the socio-economic situation across the country.”

The SSS’s statement fell short of clearly threatening the labour unions.

The agency said the “all levels of Government are striving to ameliorate the prevailing economic condition and as such, should be given a benefit of the doubt.”

“So far, appropriate authorities are working assiduously with a spectrum of stakeholders to fashion out modalities to address the current difficulties. They should, therefore, be given the chance to handle the challenges at hand,” spokesperson Peter Afunnaya said.