Temporary relief came the way of the federal and state governments as the organised labour and civil society groups have agreed to suspend the ongoing strikes and mass protests for two days — Saturday and Sunday.
This move, according to them, is to enable their negotiating team move around the country to Abuja for negotiations with the government on fuel subsidy removal.
According to the National Public Relations Officer of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and Chairman of Rivers State arm of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Chika Onuegbu, “Please, take note that there will be no strike; Saturday and Sunday only. Our members in the aviation industry are hereby requested to allow planes to fly today (Friday), tomorrow (Saturday) and Sunday so the executive labour council can meet.”
In a related development, the convener of Save Nigeria Group (SNG), Pastor Tunde Bakare, also announced the suspension of the mass protest for today and tomorrow.
According to Bakare, the move was to enable the labour leaders to negotiate with the Federal Government and give the protesters time to rest and prepare for more action if the negotiations fail.
He insisted that the civil societies would only back down if the government reverts to N65, while saluting the courage and resilience of the protesters who daily came out in their numbers to the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Square in Ojota to protest the fuel subsidy removal.
Pastor Bakare said the suspension was also meant to allow participants to refresh themselves on Saturday and Sunday, stressing that the outcome of the Federal Government’s meeting with labour leaders would determine the strength of next week’s protest.
While addressing the protesters at the Gani Fawehinmi Park, he said the group would extend its tentacles to Abuja if the government failed to revert the pump price of petrol to N65 after the negotiation today.
“We are coming out with full force on Monday if the Federal Government fails to revert to the old pump price of N65. We will not only occupy Lagos, but Abuja as from Monday,” he said.
From all indications, for the first time since Monday, business and social activities would be allowed free flow owing to the suspension of the protest. The venue of the protest was, however, used for juma’at service by Muslims before departure of protesters.
Before he closed his speech, Bakare implored the Christians among the protesters to guard the Muslim faithful while they said the prayers.
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