Protesters pull down NASS gate disrupt ministerial screening

Legislative activities were disrupted temporarily by protesting Nigerian workers who besieged the National Assembly Complex on Wednesday.

The workers were protesting against the economic hardship arising occasioned by petrol price hike by the federal government.

Attempts by the security personnel to resist the angry protesters from gaining access to the National Assembly, led to the pulling down of the gate of the Complex.

According to Daily Trust, the failure of the security officials to adhere, angry protesters pulled down the gate and subsequently moved to the second gate of the Assembly Complex.

The action forced members of the National Assembly that were getting to screen the last batch of ministerial nominees by President Bola Tinubu, to bulge after the protesters moved into the Assembly Complex, amid tension.

Senate Majority Leader, Ali Ndume from Borno State, address the protests who were armed with placards bearing different inscriptions that depict their mood.

A combined security team quickly stepped into the crowd of protesters apparently to forestall breakdown of law and order.

Workers union leaders led by the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Joe Ajaero, had converged on the the Unity Fountain in Abuja where they marched to the Complex.

**CAPTION: A COMBINED PHOTOGRAPH OF POLICE PERSONNEL/PROTESTERS AT THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY COMPLEX ON WEDNESDAY.**

Speaking on African Independent Television (AIT) breakfast programme, tagged, ‘Kakaki’ on Wednesday, Comrade Nuhu Toro, the National Secretary of the Trade Union Congress, TUC, threatened that the workers may shut down the National Assembly.

He stated that the protest will hold until the government meet their demands, adding that Nigerian workers will continue to interrogate.

Comrade Toro noted that “If strike and protest is not enough, we will march to the National Assembly and demand for answers. Enough is enough”.

“History has shown that Nigerian leaders only understand the language of protests and strikes.

“I can tell you that millions of Nigerians go home to sleep with hungry not at their own volition, because they can’t afford three squad meals in a day”, Toro said.