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Cost Of Living Crisis: NLC Suspends Protests

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The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC)-led protests, against the hardship in the land, were held yesterday in state capitals across the country amid heavy security presence.

Last-minutes efforts by the federal government on Monday to prevent the protests had failed as the NLC had insisted on its two-day mass protests.

However, NLC President Joe Ajaero later last night directed the congress’ members to suspend today’s protest, saying that of yesterday was a great success.

Ajaero gave the directive after an emergency National Executive Council meeting of the NLC.

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He said: “The NEC-in-session, therefore, reviewed the execution of the first day of the nationwide protest to assess its effectiveness and take decision on further necessary action to guide Congress in its effort at engaging government to protect the people and Nigerian workers from the increasing scourge of hardship.

“To this end, NEC commended Nigerians, all NLC affiliates, state councils, workers and civil society allies across the nation for trooping out in large numbers to peacefully demonstrate their outrage on the hardship imposed by the government and its twin altars – the IMF and the World Bank.

“NEC also deeply appreciates Nigerian workers and masses for sending a strong message to the powers that be on their united resolve to demand accountability from those who occupy positions of leadership in our nation. It believed that the message has strongly resonated.

“Consequently, NEC-in-session resolved as follows: to suspend street action for the second day of the protest having achieved overwhelming success thus attained the key objectives of the 2-day protest on the first day.

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NLC members protesting againsts cost of living crisis at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja yesterday
“However, nationwide action continues tomorrow with simultaneous press conferences across all the states of the federation by the state councils of the congress including the National Headquarters.

“To reaffirm and extend the 7-days ultimatum by another 7 days which now expires on the 13th day of March, 2024 within which the Government is expected to implement all the earlier agreement of the 2nd day of October, 2023 and other demands presented in our letter during today’s nationwide protest.

“To meet and decide on further lines of action if on the expiration of the 14 days government refuses to comply with the demands as contained in the ultimatum.”

Our correspondents, who monitored the protests across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory yesterday, reported that they were peaceful.

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There were, however, low turnouts of protesters in Kano, Rivers, Ekiti and Plateau States as bakeries, schools and other public places opened for activities.

There was a counter-protest in Abuja, in solidarity with President Bola Tinubu’s administration. It was led by the Network of Civil Society For Economic Sustainability.

NLC President, Joe Ajaero, who led the labour protest in Abuja yesterday, said: “We are here for a rally so that Mr President will know how Nigerians feel and know where it is pinching us. The government said we should not rally.

They used peaceful means and threats but we are in God’s hands.”

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Council poll: APC working on consensus candidates ahead of primaries

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Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is working towards consensus candidates for the upcoming primary election scheduled for Saturday.

The move is part of the party’s efforts to maintain unity and reduce internal frictions.

Five aspirants emerged unopposed following the screening organised by the party.

The incumbent Chairman of Surulere Local Government, Sulaimon Yusuf; his counterpart in Iba Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Jubril Yisa; Motunrayo Alogba of Ijede LCDA and Kasali Bamidele in Lekki LCDA emerged unopposed. A new aspirant, Azeez Kareem, was the only person cleared to contest in Oto-Awori LCDA.

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Chairman of the APC Lagos State Electoral Committee, Babatunde Ogala, SAN, in an interview with The Nation, disclosed that more aspirants had emerged unopposed following interventions from the party leaders.

He expressed optimism that many more aspirants would step down before the Saturday primary election.

“We are hoping to have at least 70 per cent consensus candidates going into the primary election. If we can achieve that, it will leave us with only 30 per cent to conduct primaries for,” he said.

According to him, the appeal committee, headed by Mr. Adeniji Kazeem, SAN, has been sitting for the past two days and has received over 100 petitions.

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Ogala said the committee had treated over 70 of the petitions and would conclude their assignment today (Wednesday).

He explained that while the party had prepared for indirect primaries, involving delegates drawn from local government executives, efforts were ongoing at various levels to arrive at consensus candidacies in many wards.

He said electoral materials were being finalised for distribution by Saturday, with electoral officers already appointed to oversee the process in all 57 local councils.

Ogala said security had been fully arranged in collaboration with the police, DSS, civil defence and Lagos traffic officials to ensure order and smooth movement at the secretariats where the primaries were expected to take place.

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According to him, the party is also scheduled to hold a key stakeholders’ meeting today with senior officials and aspirants to finalise agreements and chart the way forward.

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$400m steel factory set to begin operations in Ogun

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President of Inner Galaxy Group, Mr. Li Shuang, yesterday, disclosed that his company was ready to set up a $400 million hot rolled coiled steel factory with the capacity to employ about 6,500 direct and indirect workers in Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun State.

He made this known while leading a delegation of principal officials of the organization at the Governor’s Office located at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

He added that the company is expected to commence operations in April 2026, saying the organization, a multinational company with vast investments in Asia, the Philippines, Malaysia, and some African countries like Ghana and Angola, entered the Nigerian market in 2005, producing iron rods for the building industry.

Governor Dapo Abiodun expressed delight in the huge investment, as he ascribed the success to his administration’s deliberate and intentional move to make the state the leading industrial hub in Nigeria and the West Africa sub-region.

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“This is a $400 million investment; this aligns with the President’s vision to ensure that we grow this economy to a trillion dollars, and I think that you will be contributing your quota in achieving that. We are excited that you will also be employing people.

“I will be commissioning a multimillion-dollar diagnostic equipment facility during the week. This administration has managed to attract quite a lot of industries in the last six years,”

Abiodun noted that the state is blessed with abundant human and natural resources, adding that alluvial gold had been discovered in large quantities, just as the state has the highest quality of lithium.

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Ndume backs Tinubu’s ban on foreign goods

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Senator Ali Ndume has applauded President Bola Tinubu’s decision to ban the importation of foreign goods that can be produced locally, describing it as a major incentive for indigenous manufacturers.

The ban was announced by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, during a media briefing following Monday’s Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja.

According to Idris, the policy is part of the administration’s broader “Renewed Hope Nigeria First Policy,” aimed at revitalising the local economy and boosting local content.

In addition to restricting imports, the Federal Government also announced tighter controls on the employment of expatriates, saying that going forward, foreign workers would only be allowed to take on jobs that cannot be executed by Nigerian contractors or artisans, unless expressly approved by the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP).

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Describing the move as a landmark decision, the senator who represents Borno South, said it would significantly strengthen local businesses, create jobs and reduce the pressure on Nigeria’s foreign reserves.

“It is heartwarming to hear that President Tinubu has taken this bold step to ban the importation of goods that can be produced within our borders. This is a major boost for indigenous businesses, especially at a time when our economy is struggling,” Ndume said in a statement yesterday.

He added that proper implementation of the policy would protect local manufacturers from being driven out by foreign companies flooding the market with cheaper, often substandard products.

“With stronger support for local industries, we will see more job creation for our youths, an increase in our Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and an appreciation in the value of the Naira due to reduced demand for foreign exchange,” he said.

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Ndume also urged the government to go a step further by imposing steep taxes on select imported goods. “This will discourage the consumption of foreign products and encourage Nigerians to patronise locally made alternatives,” he said.

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