President of the Trade Union Congress, TUC, Festus Osifo, has appealed directly to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, and other security agencies to deploy all necessary measures to ensure the protection of protesters next week.
Security agencies, including the DSS and the army have recently issued strong warnings to citizens to desist from such protests but Osifo, in a briefing with journalists, said the Police are mandated by the Police Act and the constitution to provide adequate security for protesters. He said adequate protection is necessary to ensure that the planned protest is not hijacked by hoodlums.
“As Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, we have been involved in several protests. We are also happy with some of the comments that we are hearing from different quarters assuring that when the protests do take place, these people will be protected,” he said.
“We don’t want a situation whereby the protest goes on and at the end of the day, it leads to violence. We want to hereby call on the Inspector General of Police and the entire security agencies to do everything possible to provide security for whoever intends to carry out protests so such protests do not degenerate into chaos.”
Osifo distanced his union from the planning of the protest but insisted Nigerians must be free to exercise their rights to freedom of expression.
“The leadership has never sat down one day to call for a strike or protest. All we know is that the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is very clear on the issue of peaceful protest.
“The Police Act also mandates the police that when there is a protest, you should ensure that there is law and order, ensure that those that are protesting are also protected.”