Dr. Stephen Adalooh Knabayi, Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) FCT Council, narrowly escaped a mob attack during a peaceful protest demanding the payment of the N70,000 minimum wage for Area Council workers.
Leading the protest to the Minister’s office on Thursday, Dr. Knabayi was among the officials permitted to enter for negotiations on behalf of the workers.
However, his actions were perceived by the protesters as a betrayal, as they had insisted on a direct meeting with the Minister.
The protesters, already angered by this perceived slight, waited impatiently for the delegation to emerge.
Tensions escalated when Dr. Knabayi came out to address them, prompting the crowd to hurl insults and attack him. Accusations of compromise were levelled against him as the enraged protesters pelted him.
Other labour officials intervened to rescue Dr. Knabayi, whisking him away from the scene.
At the time of this report, the protesters were still pursuing him, intent on further confrontation.
Newsmen reported earlier that many placard-carrying workers staged a peaceful protest. They marched from the Labour House in the Central Area to the Minister’s office at Area 11, chanting anti-government songs to emphasise their demands.
It was also reported that tensions escalated when armed policemen locked the main gate of the Minister’s office, preventing the protesters from entering.
However, the organised labour group stood firm, insisting that the Minister must address them. They vowed to block the movement of staff and officials until their demands were heard.
At that point, a management staff member, Mandate Secretary, Lawrence Garki, attempted to address the protesters but was turned away amidst chants of “thief, thief.”
The protesters are also demanding the resignation or removal of the six Area Council Chairmen, accusing them of being indifferent to their struggles.
