Hardship Protest: NLC, TUC Told to Declare General Strike, "Now is The Time"

• The national coordinator of the Education Rights Campaign (ERC), a civil society group, Hassan Taiwo Soweto, has said the recent invasion of the NLC office in Abuja by security operatives shows neutrality is not an option
• Soweto said now is the time for the trade unions to "enter the fight" by reinforcing the 'End Bad Governance' movement
• The human rights activist advised labour unions to declare a 48-hour general strike and mass protest

Legit.ng journalist, Ridwan Adeola Yusuf, has over 9 years of experience covering public affairs.

Ikeja, Lagos state - Comrade Hassan Taiwo Soweto, a Lagos-based activist who is one of the organisers of the 'End Bad Governance in Nigeria' protest, has asked the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to declare a two-day strike.

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Soweto's call follows the invasion of the NLC headquarters in Abuja by Nigerian security forces.

Protests: Activist calls for reinforcement

The NLC in a tweet on its official handle on Thursday morning, August 8, said the security operatives allegedly "broke into" a section of the building and "ransacked books at the bookshop, carrying all the materials into their van and claiming that the materials were used to incite and organise" the ongoing anti-hardship protests.

Reacting to the reported invasion, Soweto called for a labour-powered mass protest.

He wrote on his known X (formerly Twitter) page:

"Yesterday's invasion of the NLC office in Abuja by security operatives shows neutrality is not an option.

"Now is the time for the trade unions to enter the fight by reinforcing the #EndBadGovernance movement with a 48-hr general strike and mass protest."

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Protest organisers in mourning mood

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that organisers of the ongoing 'End Bad Governance' protest announced a three-day mourning period.

A statement by Soweto, Ayoyinka Oni, and Adegboyega Adeniji, on behalf of the protest's organising committee said the mourning dates are to honour the memories of their fallen colleagues who were killed by security agents during the protests.

Source: Legit.ng