In response to the upcoming two-day protest organized by Labour groups to oppose the current economic hardships and escalating cost of living, police authorities have issued a strict warning against any acts of violence.
This admonition was delivered on Sunday, coinciding with the Nigeria Labour Congress outlining new prerequisites in anticipation of the minimum wage discussions set to start today, Monday.
The police’s cautionary stance aligns with concerns raised by the African Development Bank regarding potential social unrest in Nigeria, as well as in Ethiopia, Angola, and Kenya, due to the escalating prices of fuel and other commodities.
In its 2024 macroeconomic performance and outlook report, the AfDB highlighted a positive projection for Africa’s economy, expecting a growth rebound to 3.8 percent in 2024, up from the 3.2 percent growth in 2023.
Nevertheless, the AfDB warned of the risk of internal conflicts in countries like Nigeria, Angola, Kenya, and Ethiopia. This potential instability is attributed to the surge in fuel and commodity prices, which might be exacerbated by factors such as currency devaluation or the elimination of subsidies.
It stated, “Internal conflicts and violence could also result from rising prices for fuel and other commodities due to weaker domestic currencies and reforms.
“For instance, the removal of fuel subsidies in Angola, Ethiopia, Kenya and Nigeria and the resulting social costs has led to social unrest driven by opposition to government policy.”
On February 8, the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress gave a two-week ultimatum to the government to implement the agreements on palliatives for workers to mitigate the impact of the fuel subsidy removal and other policies reached last October.
The unions said they had mobilised their members for the nationwide protests slated for February 27 and 28.
