Members of organised labour demanded to meet with Adams Oshiomhole, former governor of Edo state, after forcing their way into the National Assembly 😭 Complex on Wednesday.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) had announced the commencement of nationwide protests following President Bola Tinubu’s decision to pull the plug on the petrol subsidy regime.
The president’s pronouncement during his inaugural speech on May 29, immediately resulted in a hike in the pump price of petrol, galloping inflation and economic hardship.
Dialogue sessions between government representatives and NLC, aimed at forestalling the protests and an impending strike, have yielded very little results.
On Wednesday, protesters in Abuja took down the gate leading into the National Assembly Complex, while chanting solidarity songs and slogans.
Once inside the complex, Ali Ndume, chief whip of the senate; Ireti Kingibe who represents the FCT in the senate; and Tony Nwoye who represents Anambra North, among others, stood on the railings of the complex to address the irate crowd and calm frayed nerves.
However, the protesters demanded for Oshiomhole, a former labour leader and senator representing Edo North in the upper legislative chamber.
“Where is Oshiomhole?….where is Oshiomhole?” some in the crowd thundered repeatedly as Ndume made to speak.
Oshiomhole was NLC president from 1999 to 2007. He was visibly vocal in the proverbial trenches and led several protests against the federal government during his spell as labour leader.
The lawmakers were preparing to resume screening of some of the president’s ministerial nominees when the protesters stormed the complex.