The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has asked the Department of State Security (DSS) to swiftly execute arrests of those planning to use its planned protest to form violence.
The NLC then said that its protests are always peaceful and that the forthcoming one will not lead to any form of crisis or violence.
The Congress message is in connection with an earlier statement by the DSS that warned that some elements are planning to use the planned protest to provoke crisis and violence.
The reaction message from NLC, which was signed by its President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, reads, “We are concerned by the unsolicited advice of the Department of State Security to shelve our planned protest against the unprecedented high cost of living in spite of the indescribable suffering in the land, spiralling inflation, deepening poverty, and the Naira at an exchange rate of N1,900 to the US Dollar.
“According to the Service, the planned protest should be shelved “in the interest of peace and public order,” presuming that the action is intended to be violent and disruptive even when we have a history of peaceful protests.
“More worrying is the new role the service has assigned to itself as the chief spokeswoman of the government.
According to the service, “It is common knowledge that all levels of government are striving to ameliorate the prevailing economic condition and, as such, should be given the benefit of the doubt. So far, appropriate authorities are working assiduously with a spectrum of stakeholders to fashion out modalities to address the current difficulties.”
“We are equally worried that, although the “Service is aware that some elements are planning to use the opportunity of the protest to foment crisis and, by extension, widespread violence,” it has not executed the arrest of these elements.
“We are equally intrigued by the innuendos of the service, their philosophy of “peace” and wild allegations, and we want to reassure them that no one loves this country more than us, and on our honour, we would never do anything that would compromise its sovereignty or security.
“Having said this, we would not have ourselves blackmailed or lied against by the Service. Our protest is a peaceful one against the unpardonable cost of living, of which the unserviced 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.”
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