Members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Wednesday staged coordinated demonstrations to draw attention to growing insecurity across several parts of the country.
The protests held despite a closed-door engagement between President Bola Tinubu and labour leaders at the State House late Tuesday.
Those present at the meeting included Joe Ajaero, NLC president; Hope Uzodimma, Imo state governor and chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum; Nasir Idris, Kebbi state governor; Monday Okpebholo, Edo state governor; and Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, minister of labour and employment.
After the meeting, Ajaero told journalists that labour leaders would review the president’s position before deciding on further action.
He said the congress leadership planned to regroup following a separate consultation with state governors to assess developments and chart a way forward.
In Lagos, protesters assembled beneath the Ikeja underbridge before commencing a march through the state capital.
The procession moved from Ikeja to the Lagos house of assembly amid chants expressing solidarity and frustration over security failures.
The workers accused the federal government of failing to fulfil its constitutional duty of safeguarding citizens and their property.
At the assembly complex, representatives of the protesting workers held discussions with some Lagos lawmakers to explain the objectives of the demonstration.
Femi Falana, human rights lawyer, joined the Lagos protest in support of the labour movement.
In Abuja, NLC members converged at the Labour House to protest what organisers described as a “degenerating security situation” nationwide.
The protest attracted support from members of the Joint Health Sector Unions, the Nigerian Union of Teachers and the National Union of Electricity Employees.
Speaking to demonstrators, Achike Chude, NLC national secretary, said insecurity was exacting a heavy economic and social toll on Nigerians.
“We cannot deceive ourselves that the country is at the verge of collapse. And if something is not done, we are all in deep trouble,” Chude said.
“We are here to push and put the government under pressure to do the needful.”