http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8047157.stm

Angry Nigerians take to streets

Heavy security was put on the streets during the march
Angry Nigerians have taken to the streets of the commercial capital Lagos to protest at what they say is the poor performance of the government.

Thousands walked to the government house in Ikeja to protest against rising fuel prices, low minimum wages and the slow electoral reform.

Armoured cars were stationed on the route to guard against unrest.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is planning a further protest on Friday in the southern oil-producing Niger Delta.

The government said the protests may be used "to cause chaos", and urged the NLC to return to negotiations.

Heavy security was put on the streets during the march.

The BBC's Fidelis Mbah in Lagos said the march grew as they picked up more people on the way.

"Commercial drivers, and motorcycle taxi operators are leaving their work and joining the protest," he said.

At every corner there are armed police, and at least four armoured cars followed the demonstration, our correspondent says.

Minimum demands

The NLC says further protests are planned for the southern Delta State and cities in the north over the next 10 days, before a second phase of demonstration throughout the country.



"We are determined to carry these protests to all nooks and crannies of the country," said NLC president Abdulwaheed Omar. "We are not afraid of the government."

The NLC wants the government to scrap its plans aimed at deregulating the oil sector, saying the move would lead to further fuel shortages and push up pump prices.

Nigeria imports some 85% of its oil petroleum product needs, despite being Africa's largest oil producer.

The NLC is also demanding higher minimum wages, currently about $38 (£25) per month, and electoral reforms to avoid a repeat of what it calls flawed polls in the past.

Good!!

ok

Is it strike or protest?

LAGOS (AFP) — A Nigerian labour representative Wednesday slammed the government of President Umaru Yar'Adua at a thinly-attended protest march in the commercial capital Lagos.

"Yar'Adua's government cannot be reformed. It cannot change. With his government, there is no future for Nigeria. The government must go," Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) president Abdulwaheed Omar told the rally.

"We want a government that will use our country's resources to provide a good life for the people, jobs for all able-bodies, education, electricity, good water, healthcare and shelter to all," he continued when the march reached the headquarters of the Lagos state government.

State Governor Babatunde Fashola received the protestors and promised to transmit their grievances to the federal government.

The march drew just some 3,000 protesters, according to both bystanders and AFP journalists in attendance. That is fewer than anticipated in this city of some 16 million people.

There were no estimates from either organisers or police.

NLC, a labour union umbrella body, said on May Day that the Lagos march would be followed by protests in other cities. There was no indication whether Wednesday's thin turnout would change that plan.
NLC has been calling on the government to reverse its plan to deregulate the downstream sector of the oil industry and privatise Nigeria's four ailing refineries.

The government says privatisation would be a big step towards ending reliance on fuel imports. The unions argue the move would lead to higher fuel prices.

The NLC protest is also meant to encourage the government to forge ahead with electoral reforms and to revise the monthly minimum wage for public workers, which has stood at 5,500 naira (37 dollars) for more than a decade.

Workers taking part in Wednesday's march carried banners calling for the minimum wage to be increased almost tenfold.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gWAFOMEYAtDKG--2IOQo5GyWDUfQ

The government said the protests may be used "to cause chaos", and urged the NLC to return to negotiations.

What negotiations? Who are they deceiving? As if the price hasn't been fixed. They know the NLC will protest, so they raise the price above the already fixated price they want. The public cries out in dismay, NLC protests, government calls for negotiation, government won't go below that fixated price but pretend it's negotiating. We've seen this before, nothing new.

Protest not strike.

Anddddddd the protest finish and nobody noticed.


Moving on promptly on the next round of looting.


Governors, feel free to take whatever you need from the table.