Members of the Organised Labour and civil society groups in Ilorin, Kwara State capital on Wednesday, staged a peaceful protest against the withdrawal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government.
However, determined to ensure law and order, the State’s Commisioner of Police, Ebunoluwaritimi Adelesi, led Policemen on surveillance operation during the workers protest.
Adelesi and her team were spotted along Ahmadu Bello Way, Ilorin, mounting surveillance.
The Police Commissioner had on Tuesday alongside the director of the State Security Services (SSS) and the Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in the State, held a meeting with Labour leaders, industrial and students unions, where she pleaded with them to ensure orderliness if they eventually hold the planned protest march on Wednesday.
The protesting workers commenced their rally at the Labour House, beside Kwara State High Court Complex, along Lajorin street, GRA, Ilorin, the state capital.
They marched through the Offa Road extension, Flower Garden area, and Governor’s Office before they arrived at the main entrance of the Government House, Ilorin. They later moved to the office of the deputy governor, Mr Kayode Alabi, who addressed them and assured them that their message would be passed to the appropriate quarters.
The workers said that the nation’s refineries ought to have been fixed before the fuel subsidy removal.
The protesters under the aegis of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) carried placards with various inscriptions such:
“Repair our refineries and build additional ones”, “no to industrial neo-liberal slavery”, “masses welfare is sacrosanct”, and “release eight months withheld salaries of university lecturers and workers”, amongst other demands.
The NLC chairman in the state, Comrade Muritala Olayinka, and his TUC counterpart, Comrade JosephTunde, led the protesters.
