Like their counterparts in other states across Nigeria, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and other labour unions in Lagos State trooped out en masse on Tuesday to agitate against hunger and hardship in the country.

A peaceful protest held by the different workers’ unions in the state saw the protesters march from Ikeja Under Bridge to the House of Assembly in Alausa. Some of the demands were social security, policies to address poverty and hunger, job creation and the fixing of the refineries, among others.

While some Lagos residents told FIJ that the protest would not yield the desired results, others were optimistic.

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Ife, a lady who stood at Allen Junction to watch the protesting workers, told FIJ she doubted if the protest would effect any change, pointing out that the previous protests had failed to prevent the economy from nosediving.

“This protest will change things? I doubt that. This is not the first time they have gone on a protest, yet nothing has happened. It’s like a waste of time,” she said.

A motorist, on the other hand, told FIJ that he loved the fact that labour unions were protesting, adding that he hoped it would achieve its aim.

Similar to the motorist, one of the onlookers said that the protest might make the government put meaningful policies in place that would impact ordinary citizens.

“Things are not in place. A lot are suffering and dying of hunger,” he added.

A dispatch rider, who opined that the president lacked complete power over the country, said the protest was not going to bring about any change because certain influential figures were benefiting from the pain of citizens.

“I feel the president is not the one who is in control of Nigeria. The president is there, but he can’t control anything because of the people occupying high positions, those who care only about themselves,” he said.

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“For instance, cement is N10,000 in Nigeria, but when importing them, you’ll hear prices like N2,000. I’m sure no factory can come out today to say that it will start producing cement. Those who were there before won’t allow it. They will make sure they see the end of such an idea even before it starts.

“With the way the protest is going on, the president can see it. However, he’s not going to do anything about it. Even with the NLC, after a while now, we won’t hear anything from them again. Let’s just pray that those who are in power, the ones controlling Nigeria, be dethroned.”

Tuesday’s protest was the first leg of a two-day nationwide demonstration scheduled for February 27 and 28. The NLC had announced that its members would protest the worsening economic crisis and high cost of living.