By Abubakar Yunusa and Daniel Otera
Ahead of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) planned nationwide protest, the Lagos State Police Command has warned against disruption of movement and commercial activities in the state.
NLC had declared a two-day nationwide protest between February 27 and 28, over the economic hardship in the country.
In a statement issued on Sunday, February 25, the Lagos police spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin urged the protesters to carry out the protest without “infringing on the rights of other Nigerians.”
The statement said; “The command will live up to its mandate of ensuring that no person or group of persons is allowed to infringe on the fundamental human rights of others, especially the rights to freedom of movement and right to dignity of human persons.
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“CP Fayoade, therefore, warns all intending protesters that anyone found infringing on the rights of other Nigerians will be dealt with in accordance with the law.”
Earlier, the NLC insisted on going on with the protest, despite warnings by the Department of State Services (DSS).
DSS spokesman, Peter Afunanya, in a statement, urged the union to shelve the plan in the interest of peace and public order.
The federal government has alleged that the protest is a “contempt of a court order restraining the union from embarking on industrial action.”
Meanwhile, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has written to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, urging him to provide security cover for the protesters.
Falana, who is a human rights lawyer and an ally of the labour movement, said the protest was a constitutional right of the workers and should not be disrupted by the police or any other security agency.
He cited Section 83(4) of the Police Establishment Act, which empowers the Minister of Justice to direct the Inspector-General of Police to provide adequate security to any person or group of persons exercising their fundamental rights.
Falana also advised the NLC to conduct the protest peacefully and avoid any act of violence or breach of the peace.
He said in his letter dated February 24, 2024; “While we have advised the members of the NLC to conduct the rallies scheduled for February 27-28, 2024 in a peaceful manner, we urge you to use your good offices to direct the Inspector-General of Police to provide adequate security to the conveners and participants in the protest in line with the provisions of Section 83(4) of the Police Establishment Act.”
