Katsina Coalition Kicks Against NLC’s Planned Protest

•Says FG committed to addressing nation’s challenges 

Francis Sardauna in Katsina

The Coalition of Katsina Groups for National Unity and Integration, Sunday, kicked against the planned nationwide warning protest by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

The NLC had declared a two-day protest to be held on February 27 and 28 over the economic hardship and security challenges being faced by Nigerians.

But the coalition, in a communiqué read by its Secretary, Bishir Dauda Sabon-Ungwa, after a one-day engagement with the youth, students, women and faith-based organisations in Katsina, described the protest as a needless exercise.

It explained that the planned protest would not be a remedy to the nation’s economic and security challenges, and called on the union to shelve the protest and engage the Federal Government in a dialogue.

The coalition said while Nigerians are “feeling the heat of the time”, including the high cost of living and spate of insecurity, the federal and state governments were rolling out measures to tackle the predicaments.

It said the payment of N35,000 wage, formation of the presidential compressed natural gas (CNG) initiative and establishment of seven CNG conversion centres across the geopolitical zones of the country by the Federal Government were ways of mitigating the hardship.

The communiqué read: “It is in light of the foregoing, that we feel that the upcoming nationwide protests by the NLC is needless. Our viewpoint is that the NLC has not exhausted all the available options for dialogue before calling on street protests.

“So far, the Federal Government has not shown any disdain to the Labour. We have seen how the Federal Government is engaging the Organized Labour. And the fact that some steps were taken towards meeting their demands show a high measure semblance of commitment on the part of the FG. 

“Realistically speaking, no government on this earth can meet the demands of the NLC in 14 days hence we advise the Organized Labour to shelve their planned nationwide protests.”

The coalition, while noting that the Federal Government has cut “frivolous government expenditures”, called on government at sub-national levels to augment the efforts of the Federal Government by rolling out different measures to cushion the hardship among the masses.