U-17 W/Cup can’t stop protest rally in Abuja - NLC - Don’t be violent, FG warns

Okey Muogbo and Soji–Eze Fagbemi, Abuja - 29.10.2009

THE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), on Wednesday, said the might of the Federal Government and the FIFA U-17 World Cup being hosted by the country could stop it from carrying out its protest rally against the government on the deregulation of the downstream oil sector and expected increase in the pump price of fuel products.

The labour union said it would use the time and opportunity to stage a peaceful protest rally and call attention to the continuous plight of Nigerians under a government that had subjected its people to all sorts of obnoxious policies.

The NLC, with its 37 affiliate unions, state councils and its civil society allies, will stage a protest in Abuja today against the deregulation policy of the Federal Government and to ensure the implementation of the report of the electoral reform panel.

Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune on the congress, which it tagged Mother of all Rallies at the Labour House in Abuja, on Wednesday, NLC Head of Information, Onah Iduh, said the FIFA U-17 championship could not affect or stop the rally from holding as planned.

Asked if the government was making overture to NLC and its allies to shelve the protest, Iduh said the only thing that could stop the rally was if the government dropped the planned deregulation and fuel price increase, announce a good package for Nigerian workers and the full implementation of the Justice Mohammed Uwais-led electoral reform panel.

He said the Federal Government could not stop the protest at this stage, saying that the Abuja rally was the last in the series of such protest rallies that had taken place across the six geo-political zones of the country.

When the Nigerian Tribune visited the Labour House, preparations for the rally were in top gear and all materials needed, including banners, leaflets, posters and others, were already in place.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has appealed to workers not to be violent in their protest. The Minister of Labour and Productivity, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode, made the appeal, on Wednesday, to the NLC and its affiliate unions.