Members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) have started protests in several parts of the country over the biting economic hardship.

Labour and Federal Government authorities had met Monday in a late push to stop the protests, but the meeting ended with no agreement reached between the parties.

As early as 7:00 am, protesters started gathering in different parts of the country, bearing placards and putting on the paraphernalia of the NLC.

10: 48 am: Protesters have also converged in Enugu to join other NLC members across the country in a demonstration against hardship.

10:27 am: In Abuja, the protesters are entering the National Assembly. Unlike previous protests, the gates of the NASS are thrown open, as the protesters enter without resistance from security personnel.

10:26 am: The NLC members in Niger State have joined their counterparts across the country to protest what they describe as rising inflation and hunger Nigerians a faced with.

The NLC chairman in Niger State Idris Lafene while leading members to the premises of the Niger State House of Assembly, said members continue to grapple with the negative consequences of banditry and other forms of criminalities.

While receiving them, the Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly Abdulmalik Sarkindaji commended the protesters. He informed them that the state House of Assembly had also suspended plenary during the period of protest as a show of solidarity. The protesters move along major roads in Minna bearing different placards with inscriptions such as “Stop Hunger,” “Stop Robbing the Poor: Tax the Rich,” “Support Local Manufacturers” etc.

10:25 am: Members of NLC in Osun State are protesting against economic hardship in Nigeria. The protesters are gathered under the Olaiya Bridge in Osogbo, the Osun State capital.

10: 05 am: NLC protest in progress in Yenagoa, Bayelsa.

9:48 am: Members of the Nigeria Labour Congress in Imo State are gathering at the Labour House in Owerri the state capital for an onward march to the Government House to present their demands to the government. The Imo State Commissioner for Police Danjuma Aboki is on the ground with his men to ensure the protest is not hijacked and to forestall any breakdown of law and order.

9:46 am: Members of the NLC Bauchi State Council are set to begin protest. The crowd has improved significantly, and members are warming up to hit the streets any moment from now.

9:43: Protesters are thronging out of the NLC Secretariat in Abuja.

9:43 am: The NLC protest in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital just kicked off.

9:14 am: From the NLC Secretariat, members of the labour union proceeded on a street protest, walking along the popular Independence Way in the Kaduna State capital. Singing and carrying placards and banners with various inscriptions, the workers say not even a threat by the government can deter them from registering their displeasure over the poor economic situation in the country. They are asking the government to urgently address the rising inflation, insecurity and high cost of food and other items before the situation gets out of hand.

9:10 am: Union members with the NLC, NUT, NURTW, etc are assembling at the National Museum ground in Benin City, the Edo State capital in preparation for the protest.

8:57 am: Members of organized labour have begun gathering at the Race Course in Kano State to protest against economic hardship.

8:57 am: Members of the Kaduna State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) converged at the union’s state secretariat for the NLC protest. Ahead of the demonstration, security has been beefed up around the state capital to avert any breakdown of law and order. The protest is led by the Kaduna State NLC chairman Ayuba Suleiman.

8:50 am: Security is stationed in front of the NLC office in Bauchi where the protest will take off from. People are still arriving in the office but the number of people here is not significant for now.

8:43 am: In Oyo State, NLC members were gathered at the union’s secretariat in Agodi, Ibadan. The protest is yet to start but workers are trickling in at the moment.

8:24 am: Members of the Ogun State chapter of the NLC gathered for the protest at their state office in Abeokuta, the state capital.

8:14 am: NLC members are preparing for the protest in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The take-off point is the secretariat take-off. Some NLC exco members are around alongside the police.

7:44 am: In Lagos State, the protesters gathered at the Ikeja under the bridge area amid heavy security presence.

The NLC has also been joined by some other unions like the Nigerian Union of Teachers, (NUT), the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) among others.

Meanwhile, the police have manned every major junction along the three-kilometre planned route.

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