The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has disregards the Department of State Services, DSS, advisory to shelve its planned nationwide protest in the interest of peace and public order.
The NLC, on Monday, began mobilizing its members for a planned mass protest scheduled for February 27 and 28 over the exorbitant cost of living in the country.
However, the DSS in a statement by its Spokesman, Peter Afunanya, urged the NLC to engage the government in a dialogue, saying the planned protest has the capacity to trigger tension and violence in the country.
“The DSS further calls on parties to pursue dialogue and negotiation rather than engaging in conducts that could heighten tensions.”
“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”
Meanwhile, the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, on Wednesday, insisted that there was no going back on the plan protest, citing the level of hardship imposed on Nigerians via some policies of the present administration.
The NLC president assured that the protest would be peaceful, urging the Service to fish out individual or group planning to hijack the process.
“Our protest is a peaceful one against the unpardonable cost of living of which personnel of the Service are also victims.”
“We cannot fold our hands and pretend all is well. That will be a grievous conspiracy that history will not forgive”.
