By Ogochukwu Isioma
Members of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, on Tuesday protested in Benin City, the Edo state capital, in solidarity with the striking members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU.
The score of protesters who stormed major streets in Benin City carried placards with various inscriptions calling on the Federal Government to act and get the ASUU members and students back to classrooms.
metrowatchxtra correspondent who monitored the exercise, reports that the protest was largely peaceful as security operatives were on ground possibly to provide cover and forestall breakdown of law and order.
Take-off point for the exercise was at the popular Museum ground, Ring Road (also known as King Square), in Benin City. Members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and ASUU in Edo were seen joining the protest which kicked off early Tuesday morning.
As of the time of filing this report, the score of protesters have taken the protest to the Government House, Benin, where they were received and currently being addressed by Chief of Staff to the Governor, Osaigbovo Iyoha; and Media Aide to the Governor, Mr Crusoe Osagie.
The nationwide protest organised by the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, is in solidarity with ASUU over the ongoing industrial action by the varsity staff union that clocked five months on July 14, 2022.
Members of the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, have deployed personnel in critical infrastructure and facilities in response to the strike.
The Nigeria Labour Congress had on Monday directed workers across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, to join the protest; despite an initial warning from the federal government against it.
More photos after the cut…
