Like a nation in war, thousands of combined armed security agents flooded the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, on Monday, January 9, as the general strike and mass protests called by labour and its civil society allies grounded governance and business activities in Abuja and environs.

The same scenario was experienced in other states of the Federation as thousands of Nigerians trooped out in mass to express their anger and rejection of the Federal Government’s policy on subsidy removal.

A day preceeding the commencement of the strike and mass rally, the Nigeria Police headquarters had read a riot act, while the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command of the Nigeria Police also came out to say that it had posted 15,000 personnel for law and order in Abuja, in anticipation of the protests.

 In addition, the FCT Commissioner of Police, Mike Zuokumor, gave an order that the rally should only be held at the car park of the National Stadium, Abuja and should not extend to the city.

But against the directive of the police command, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) came out with a counter directive and directed Abuja residents to gather as early as 8 a-m on Monday at the Berger Junction for the take-off of the protest.  

On the first day of what has been described as a very successful strike and mass protests across the country, President of NLC, Comrade Abdulwahed Omar and the President General of the TUC, Comrade Peter Esele, who led the Abuja end of the protest announced the unfortunate death of some people who were shot by police in Lagos and Kano. 

Against this background, labour and civil society organisations vowed to press charges against President Goodluck Jonathan at the World Court in Hague, over the killing of innocent people who are merely engaging in peaceful protest over the anti-people policy of his government.

Speaking on the killing, Comrade Omar said: “We have just received bad breaking news that some people who had come out to protest peacefully were killed in Lagos. Comrades, this is a very sad day that in a democracy; people who came out to express their grievances peacefully were killed.

“The leadership of labour and civil society organisations has to take this issue seriously. We are going to immediately write the president, they must take drastic action to bring to book the people who killed innocent Nigerians, and their agents.”

However, the heavy presence of security men did not deter the labour leaders and the protesters who gathered at the Berger Junction, Abuja, as early as 9 a.m to commence the mass protest.

All government offices, shops, banks and markets were shut down in Abuja, Lagos and other states of the federation as workers and Nigerians heeded to the call by Labour and civil society groups to embark on an indefinite strike.

The procession in Abuja started as scheduled at the Berger Junction despite earlier Police threats and directive not to allow any protest in the city centre.

Though peaceful, the Police tried to halt the peaceful procession when the crowd, numbering over 2,000 got to the popular Wuse Market Junction. The Police blocked the main road with a Police Truck with Registration Number: NPF 2185 C.

With the intervention of Labour leaders, the issue was amicably resolved and the procession continued through Wuse Market and Aminu Kano Crescent, before it was finally terminated by the leadership in front of Amingo Super Market in Wuse 2, with a call to Abuja residents to converge the following day for the continuation of the mass protest. The same trend was replicated between Monday and Friday, but with the procession taking different routes. 

Popular faces at the procession were NLC President, Comrade AbdulWaheed Omar, TUC President; Comrade Peter Esele, NLC General Secretary; Comrade Owei Lakemfa, Deputy President of NLC and President of Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU), Comrade Kiri Mohammed, Vice President of NLC, Comrade Issa Aremu, President, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) Comrade Samson Ugwoke, a musician, Charles Oputa (Charley Boy), President, Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Omode Idris, Honourable Patrick Obahiagbon (Igodomigodo), Honourable Dino Melaye, Mr. Taye Olorode and others.

Addressing the large crowd, Comrade Esele said: “Increase in pump price will not solve Nigeria problems; the root of the country’s problem is rooted in bad governance and corruption. This protest must be peaceful. Don’t allow the police to use their teargas. It is not the solution of our problem. You are ahead of your leaders. Does the President pay tax? What about the 25 per cent of their allowance? Have they reduced the number of their entourage?”

Comrade Omar, in his address, said: “The message must be sent clearly that Nigerians are saying no to fuel price increase. What Labour movement and civil society is saying is that the Federal Government must revert to N65.

“Mr. President had addressed the nation, and in his address, which of course is an emergency, he announced the reduction of 25 per cent in basic salary of all political office holders. He is the highest political office holder in Nigeria and his annual basic salary is N3.5million.

“If you reduce this by 25 per cent, that mean you are reducing about N650, 000. Let us assume that there are 10,000 other political office holders in the country, 650,000 multiply by the 10,000 will make a total of 65 million.

“The president’s entertainment alone as proposed in this year budget is N1 billion. The provision for travel for Mr. President this year is N10 billion. If you replicate this in the same proportion in the states, what we are saying is that that is not what the common man wants.

“If that reduction is done, will it have any effect on the cost of commercial transportation? Will it have effect on cost of foods? The only solution is that you revert to N65 per litre.

“Another thing we have been saying about the issue of fuel subsidy is that what was appropriated was N200 billion last year. How come government would continue to claim that it has spent N1.3 trillion?

“There are two things that are clear here, is either somebody is telling lies that such money was not spent at all, or that they spent the money illegally. This is because any money you are spending, especially, money of such magnitude, must be appropriated by the National Assembly.

“The National Assembly has said they have not appropriated such money. That means the expenditure of the purported subsidy is illegal.

What we are saying is that if government says that the subsidy is N1.3 trillion and can’t pay it, why must it be the only removal of subsidy that will be the solution? Why are they not going after those who have collected the money illegally?

 ”I must say that we have witnessed in the last few days the gallant intervention of the members of the National Assembly. They defied all, entreaties, all threats that they must not reconvene, but because they are close to the people, they could feel the pings of the people and they decided to reconvene and take decision. And yesterday afternoon they arrived at a resolution, calling on the executive to revert to N65 per litre.

“This is a very good patriotic move and we commend members of the House of Representatives and also call on the Senate to also do the same thing. This is a long drawn battle and I enjoin you not to be wane down.”

Honourable Patrick Obahiagbon said: “We must congratulate the Police for conducting themselves as democrats and we must not give them course to attack us. He said that the action of the House truly shows that democracy was truly of the people by the people and for the people.”