After that, the demonstrators relocated to the second gate of the Assembly Complex, even though senators quickly joined a session behind closed doors after the initial incident.

Protests began today in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, and other states of the Federation, including Lagos, Abia, Plateau, Kaduna, Kano, Rivers, Zamfara, Katsina, Cross River, Ebonyi, Enugu, Kwara, Ogun, Imo, Ondo, and Edo. The demonstrations were organized by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC), and their affiliate unions.

Protesters numbering in the hundreds gathered at the Unity Fountain, which served as their starting point for a march to the NASS Complex.

In the run-up to today's screening of ministerial nominations, Senate President Godswill Akpabio is scheduled to deliver a speech to the demonstrators.

At the conclusion of the Senate's session held behind closed doors, Akpabio said that the upper house had established a three-person team to meet with the demonstrators at the National Assembly.
In addition, the Senate came to the conclusion that it will meet with the leadership of the NLC and TUC within the shortest amount of time possible in order to find an amicable solution to the current deadlock.

Earlier, the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, stated that there is "nothing stopping the protest, not even an overture from the government" when speaking to Channels Television at the Unity Fountain.

He stated that the Organised Labour will not call off the protest unless there is a reaction from the administration that meets their expectations.

According to Ajaero, the answer from the states will determine "whether the protest will be from today, or tomorrow, or next, or till thy kingdom come, it is not by using force."

"We are here for the protest and to make a statement that since we started negotiation, that there is nothing we have in our hands," he added. "We are here to make a statement that there is nothing we have in our hands."
In the meantime, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, issued a warning on Tuesday about the potential for "violent mass protests" throughout the country.

During his epic inaugural speech on May 29, 2023, Tinubu had removed the subsidy on gasoline, which resulted in the price of a liter of petroleum increasing from N184 to over N620, as well as food prices and general inflation galloping at a rate that had never been seen before.
The National Labor Congress (NLC) has given the Federal Government a seven-day ultimatum in which it has demanded "the immediate reversal of all anti-poor policies of the federal government including the recent hike in PMS (Premium Motor Spirit) price, increase in public school fees, and the release of the eight-month withheld salary of university lecturers and workers." This demand was made by the NLC last week.

The union also urged an upward review of the minimum salary, noting that since the President's "subsidy is gone" inauguration speech on May 29, 2023, Nigerians have lost their peace of mind. The union suggested that the minimum pay should be raised from N30,000 to N200,000.

A number of meetings that were held between the Presidency and the unions to discuss potential relief measures for Nigerians who are struggling as a result of the elimination of the petrol subsidy were unsuccessful.

Also Read: Falana To FG: NLC’s Planned Protest Does Not Violate Any Law, Nor Court Order

In addition, the intervention of the Senate and the House of Representatives did not result in any positive outcomes since the unions claimed that the government's palliatives package was not in line with the economic realities that Nigerians are currently facing.

Tinubu, in a last-ditch effort to appease the irate unions, vowed, in a broadcast to Nigerians on Monday night, that he would evaluate the pay of workers and the minimum wage.

He also announced a N75 billion palliative for the manufacturing sector and stated that 75 enterprises would benefit over the course of a nine-month period beginning in the third quarter of 2023 and continuing into the first quarter of the following year. Tinubu continued by announcing a N125 billion fund to energize "this very important sector" of the economy.

He claims that plans have been drawn up "to invest N100 billion between now and March 2024 in order to acquire 3000 units of 20-seater CNG-fueled buses."

Nevertheless, the Nigerian Labor Congress (NLC) quickly found fault with the palliative measures announced by the President to cushion the biting effect of the removal of the petrol subsidy on Nigerians. The NLC stated that the programs that will be rolled out by the government of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are completely out of touch with the economic realities and the hardship that is currently being faced by poor citizens.

"The promises and assurances made by President Tinubu are not the silver bullet that Nigerians expected," the union declared.

According to the NLC, the President was anticipated to inform Nigerians about his plans to resuscitate public refineries that have been in a dormant state for a significant number of years; but, he remained entirely silent on the subject.