Privatisation: NLC, TUC barricade NASS Complex

ABUJA—The nation’s labour movement yesterday embarked on street march within Abuja to protest against the Federal Government’s privatization programme. Leaders of the two umbrella labour unions in the country later urged the National Assembly to ensure that those found to defrauded the nation during the privatization programme should be punished.
In his speech at the rally, the President of the NLC Comrade Abdulwahed Omar who initially faulted security officials who refused to allow them to enter the premises of the National Assembly urged the lawmakers to ensure that those found guilty in the BPE probe should be brought to book just as he called on the Federal Government to immediately halt the entire privatisation exercise.
He said “we must encourage the National Assembly to do the a very good job; to tell them that the probe must not end like the power probe which discovered $16bn was squandered without any result and was swept under the carpet.

Deputy Speaker, House of Reps, Chief Emeka Ihedioha with NLC President, Comrade Abdulwaheed during the rally

“On privatisation of the ongoing probe revealed $70 million was spent to upgrade a government company only for that same company to be sold for $7 million. For the minimum wage, it must continue to remain on the exclusive list and it is a law that every arm of government must respect.”
The protest march which was led by the NLC President and his TUC counterpart began from Berger Junction at approximately 8: 50 am. The protesters passed through Wuse Zones Five, Four and Two and the Federal Secretariat Complex before arriving at the National Assembly.
The protest caused traffic chaos along the access roads to the National Assembly. Traffic was brought to a total standstill for the period the rally lasted.
There was tension at the link road to the National Assembly as the protesters were denied entry into the main premises of the Parliament.

Source:  Vanguard Newspaper