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NLC President Leads Protesters To National Assembly, says Nigerians are dying of hunger
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…as NASS Leadership say efforts on to urgently address problem
By Gloria Ikibah
The Nigeria labour Congress NLC, has commenced its two-day national protest in Abuja.
Addressing members of the national Assembly on Tuesday at the NASS complex, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Joe Ajaero, who decried that Nigerians are dying of hunger as a result of the economic hardship in the country, urged the Federal Government to urgently address the situation.
Naijablitznews.com reports that Comrade Ajaero led thousands of protesters including civil society organizations in protest against the economic hardship.
He said: “We thank everyone for making this happen. Today has come to pass. They said we should not be but we are here. We are here because there is hunger in the land. History will not forgive us if we do not protest at the level of hunger in the land. It is to signal to the authorities that there is a problem in the land”.
Tje NLC President further lamented the falling value of the Naira, growing insecurity, and rising unemployment among other issues.
He said that immediate measures must be taken to address the suffering, adding that the NLC would decide its next line of action.
The NLC President presented a letter containing their grievances to the representative of the leadership of the National Assembly.
Chairman Senate Committee on Labour, Employment and Productivity, Senator Diket Plang, who accepted the letter on behalf of the National Assembly said they were aware of the hardship and assured that efforts would be made to urgently address the situation.
He promised that the letter would be dispatched accordingly.
“We are supposed to stand in for Nigerians where it pinches them. I want to assure you that the National Assembly is very sensitive to what is happening, very sensitive.
“The leadership of the National Assembly, yesterday, the Senate President and the Speaker met. I was with them. We parted around 12 midnight and all the issue is about bringing solution to the suffering and yearnings of Nigerians.
“We are at a very critical period that Nigeria is taking a decision that would be of economic advantage to all of us.
“My plea and our plea is for the union to reason with us, understand with us. There is no way we will allow this thing to continue. But steps must be taken.
“Already the 15th agenda of the Memorandum of Understanding given between government and labour are being tackled. The last issue that is in place is the issue of minimum wage and negotiations are going on.
“There is no way that we will not end up with a resolution and a decision that will benefit Nigerians.
“I assure you that all of us, the press, general public, everybody is feeling it, but Nigeria will succeed. The president will succeed. We will succeed. We are very sensitive to it. So may God Almighty, help us to maximize our potentials, maximize our natural resources, may we intervene in such a way that all Nigerians will be able to exploit the God-given wealth that we have. We are all on the same page”, he stated.
Also, the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Labour and Productivity, Rep. Adefarati Adeboyega, supported his Senate counterpart.
“We will take your letter to the leadership of the Nation Assembly. Very soon you will hear from us. We are facing the same challenges.
The economic challenges and hardship faced by Nigeria is borne by everybody.
“I want to assure you that the leadership of the National Assembly will look into your request and demands and take swift and bold action. I can assure you Nigeria will breathe again,” he added.
Naijablitznews.com reports that various security agencies were seen stationed around the entery and exit points of the National Assembly particularly the Federal Secretariat axis to ensure the orderliness of the action.
Despite several warning by some security agencies, the NLC went ahead with a protest against the economic hardship in the country.
Naijablitznews.com recalled that the DSS had last week warned that some persons are planning to use the opportunity of the planned protests by organized labour slated for 27th and 28th February to foment crisis and widespread violence.
The Director of Public Relations and Strategic Communications, DSS National Headquarters in Abuja, Dr. Peter Afunanya, in a statement, had called on labour to shelve the action meant to protest the economic situation in the country in the interest of peace.
He had urged that they pursue dialogue and negotiation rather than engaging in conducts that could heighten tensions in the country.
These entreaties however seem to have fell on deaf ears as the President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero, insisted that the protest must go on.
Tension has heightened in Uvwie Kingdom, Delta State, following a peaceful protest by scores of indigenes against the proposed visit of the Olu of Warri Kingdom, His Majesty Ogiame Atuwatse III, to Ugbonuohworu (also known as Ugbolokposo), a community located in Uvwie Local Government Area.
The protesters, comprising members of the Egweya r’Uvwie (women’s group), youths, elders and other community stakeholders, urged the Federal Government and the Delta State Government to intervene, insisting that any visit by the Olu to the community should not take place without the consent of the Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom, His Royal Majesty Emmanuel Sideso Abe I.
Carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Uvwie Says No to Olu Visit,” “Uvwie Is Not Itsekiri Land,” “We Need Peace in Uvwie Kingdom,” “There Is One King in Uvwie Kingdom,” and “Ugbonuohworu Is a Uvwie Community,” the demonstrators marched peacefully from Erovwie Community in Effurun, chanting solidarity songs.
Addressing journalists during the protest, Chairman of Erovwie Community, Chief Thomas Eyejewefe, JP, said the demonstration was prompted by what he described as claims by some Itsekiri groups that Ugbonuohworu belongs to them.
According to him, Ugbonuohworu is part of Etche Erovwie in Uvwie Kingdom, and the proposed visit by the Olu of Warri has heightened concerns among residents.
“We have always embraced peace, but information available to us indicates that the Olu of Itsekiri intends to visit Ugbonuohworu. As peace-loving people, we do not believe such a visit should take place without due regard to the traditional institution of Uvwie Kingdom,” he said.
Eyejewefe appealed to both the Federal and Delta State governments to intervene to prevent any action capable of creating tension in the area.
“We have only one traditional ruler in Uvwie Kingdom—the Ovie of Uvwie. We are calling on the authorities to ensure peace prevails by addressing this issue before it escalates,” he added.
He further maintained that Ugbonuohworu is surrounded by Erovwie, Okoribi, Ebrumede, Okuatata, Ugbomoro and Iteregbi communities, which he said are all within Uvwie Kingdom.
Also speaking, Chairman of Ugbomoro Community, Hon. (Chief) Ese Winfrey Ohwojaraye, described the proposed visit as capable of generating avoidable tension if not properly managed.
“We are appealing to the Delta State Government to intervene. We believe dialogue and respect for traditional institutions are necessary to preserve the peace that Uvwie Kingdom has enjoyed,” he stated.
Ohwojaraye urged Uvwie indigenes to remain calm, peaceful and law-abiding despite their concerns, stressing that the protest was intended to draw the attention of government and relevant stakeholders to the matter.
Other community representatives, including Ejedegba Abrahama Mamekpe and Elizabeth Egamurumu, also expressed opposition to the proposed visit, aligning themselves with the position taken by the protest leaders.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the Palace of the Olu of Warri nor the Delta State Government had issued an official response to the concerns raised by the protesters.
A member of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Aisha Yesufu, has said she begged former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, to become Peter Obi’s running mate four years ago.
Yesufu disclosed this in a post on 𝕏 on Wednesday, while reaffirming her support for the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket.
The activist said some political developments take longer than expected, but insisted she would not be distracted.
“Some things in life take longer than they should. Like the saying goes, better late than never.
“4 years ago I literally begged @KwankwasoRM to be Peter Obi’s running mate.
“Now that it is happening, you think I am going to be distracted? No way. Let’s get it done,” she wrote.
In other news, Yesufu challenged the Department of State Services (DSS) over its involvement in the prosecution of African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore.
The DSS had said it filed charges against Sowore under the Cybercrimes Act over a social media post in which he allegedly referred to President Bola Tinubu as “this criminal.”
The agency also maintained that Sowore’s remand followed court proceedings, adding that it neither arrested him nor opposed his bail.
Reacting to the development, Yesufu said Tinubu should seek redress in court if Sowore’s statement is false or defamatory, rather than involving the DSS.
She also criticised DSS’s focus on the matter amid the country’s security challenges.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is set to arraign the President of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Bello Bodejo, before the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged terrorism financing and money laundering involving about $2.53 million.
The EFCC filed a 12-count charge against Bodejo on June 22, 2026.
In a statement on Wednesday, the commission’s spokesman, Dele Oyewale, said Bodejo was accused of accepting multiple cash payments from a former Accountant-General of Bauchi State, Sa’idu Abubakar, without routing the transactions through a financial institution.
One of the counts alleged that Bodejo accepted $100,000 in cash from Abubakar on January 11, 2022, in Abuja.
The EFCC also alleged that Bodejo received $200,000 on January 21, 2022; $980,000 on February 7, 2024; and $500,000 on March 20, 2024.
The charge read, “That you, BELLO ABDULLAHI BODEJO, on or about the 7th day of February 2024, at Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did knowingly and willfully, without lawful authority or excuse, accept a cash payment of the sum of Nine Hundred and Eighty Thousand United States Dollars (USD $980,000.00) in physical currency from one SA’IDU ABUBAKAR… without routing the said transaction through a financial institution as required by law.”
The commission further accused Bodejo of possessing funds suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity.
EFCC said the alleged offences are punishable under the Money Laundering laws. Bodejo is expected to be arraigned once the court fixes a date.
“We Have One King”: Uvwie Women, Elders Oppose Planned Olu of Warri Visit
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