Labour Threatens Mass Protest Over Insecurity

Worried by the rising insecurity, especially kidnappings across the country, the organised labour said it is contemplating mobilising for a mass protest to force authorities to take action.

The secretary-general of Trade Union Congress (TUC) TUC, Comrade Nuhu Toro, who disclosed this in a chat with LEADERSHIP Friday said they may mobilise the general public against the insecurity.

According to him, labour is thinking towards that line as the safety of lives and property, which ought to be the priority of any government, has been relegated to the background.

READ ALSO: Labour Decries Epileptic Power Supply

Toro said, “We may have to take the step of mobilisation of the masses against kidnapping and insecurity. But as you know, Labour doesn’t just take unilateral decisions; we don’t operate in isolation – such suggestions of yours and any decision to be taken must go through our organs before steps can be taken. Certainly, there is an urgent need for us to step into the situation since the security of life and property, which should be the priority of any government, is threatened.”

On his own part, the president of Precision Electrical and Related Equipment Senior Staff Association (PERESSA), Comrade Rufus Olusesan, expressed the readiness of PERESSA to join in mass protests based on how the issue touches the lives of everyone.

“My union will surely participate in such struggles provided we are genuinely ready to struggle,” he said.

The president of One Nigeria Empowerment Initiative Incorporated (ONEII), Comrade Israel John Onwumere, wondered why security agencies are not making use of National Identification Number (NIN)-SIM linkage to track down kidnappers.

Onwumere said, “What is the essence of our telephone security attachment if kidnappers are able to demand and get ransom without our security agents being able to track them. Look at your phone, you will see that the caller location always appears on the phone. Labour should expose and mobilise against them,’’ he said.