The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has asked the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, to provide security cover for the demonstrators ahead of the planned nationwide protest in August.
The protest, scheduled to hold from August 1 to August 10, is against the current economic hardship in the country.
The TUC President, Festus Osifo, briefed journalists on Thursday in Abuja, saying the Police are mandated by the Police Act and the constitution to provide adequate security for protesters.
He emphasized that adequate protection is necessary to ensure that the planned protest is not hijacked by hoodlums.
Osifo noted that the TUC has been involved in several protests and is happy with comments from various quarters assuring protection for protesters. He warned against a situation where the protest leads to violence, urging the IGP and security agencies to provide security for protesters to prevent chaos.
The TUC leadership has not called for a protest, Osifo clarified, but emphasized the constitutional right to peaceful protest. He cited the Police Act, which mandates the police to ensure law and order and protect protesters.
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu, governors, and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have appealed to Nigerians to shelve the planned ‘EndBadGovernance’ protest.
The country is battling one of its worst inflation and economic crises, sparked by the government’s policies on petrol subsidy removal and forex windows unification.
