Provide Security Cover For Protesters, TUC Tells IGP

Provide Security Cover For Protesters, TUC Tells IGP

Ahead of the planned nationwide protest in August, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) has asked the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, to provide security cover for the demonstrators.

Angry youths have vowed to protest over the current economic hardship in the country. The ‘End bad governance’ protest scheduled to be held from August 1 to August 10 is already gaining traction on social media.

While government authorities have called on the organisers to shelve the demonstrations, claiming it is politically motivated, the TUC wants protection for protesters.

Briefing journalists on Thursday in Abuja, the TUC President, Festus Osifo, 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.”