Hardship Protest: NLC and TUC Urged to Announce General Strike, "The Time is Now"
Ikeja, Lagos State – Comrade Hassan Taiwo Soweto, a prominent activist and one of the key organizers behind the ‘End Bad Governance in Nigeria’ protest, has called on the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to initiate a two-day strike.
In a statement released on Thursday morning, August 8, the NLC took to its official Twitter account to report a disturbing incident involving security operatives.
According to the NLC, these operatives allegedly “broke into” a section of their building and proceeded to “ransack books at the bookshop,” confiscating various materials. They claimed that these items were intended to incite and organize the ongoing anti-hardship protests.
This incident has heightened tensions and underscores the activists’ concerns regarding the government’s response to public dissent.
Reacting to the reported invasion, Soweto called for a labour-powered mass protest. He wrote on his known X (formerly Twitter) page:
“Yesterday’s invasion of the NLC office in Abuja by security operatives shows neutrality is not an option. “Now is the time for the trade unions to enter the fight by reinforcing the #EndBadGovernance movement with a 48-hr general strike and mass protest.”
Protest organisers in mourning mood
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that organisers of the ongoing ‘End Bad Governance’ protest announced a three-day mourning period.
A statement by Soweto, Ayoyinka Oni, and Adegboyega Adeniji, on behalf of the protest’s organising committee said the mourning dates are to honour the memories of their fallen colleagues who were killed by security agents during the protests.
