Thousands of people took to the streets of the Lagos to protest what they say is the poor performance of the government.
They marched to the Government House, Ikeja to protest against rising fuel prices, low minimum wages and the slow electoral reform.
Armoured cars were stationed on the route to guard against unrest.
The protests are being organised against the federal government's deregulation of the downstream sector of the oil industry and the planned privatisation of the nation's refineries.
They are also to mobilise support for the N52,200 proposed by Organised Labour as national minimum wage for Nigerian workers and the wholesale adoption of the Report of the Electoral Reform Committee.
Officials of Organised Labour, displaying NLC and TUC flags and banners with various inscriptions dotted the Ikorodu Road in the early hours as the protest got underway.
The protesters, many of them wearing red overalls with the inscriptions: ``We demand a living wage,” chanted solidarity songs and called for more positive action by the federal government to improve the state of the nation.
The protest caused a traffic snarl on the road for Ikeja-bound vehicles as protesters marched on that side of the road.
The BBC's Fidelis Mbah in Lagos said the march grew as they picked up more people on the way.
"Commercial drivers, and motorcycle taxi operators are leaving their work and joining the protest," he said.
At every corner there are armed police, and at least four armoured cars followed the demonstration, our correspondent says.
The NLC says further protests are planned for the southern Delta state and cities in the North over the next 10 days, before a second phase of demonstration throughout the country.
"We are determined to carry these protests to all nooks and crannies of the country," said NLC president Abdulwaheed Omar. "We are not afraid of the government."
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that policemen in two Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC), as well as patrol vehicles, led the protesters and also trailed them from behind as they marched through the Ikorodu Road at about 9.20 a.m.
The protesters chanted solidarity songs and distributed flyers containing their demands.
Speaking on the development, the spokesman of the Lagos state police command, Mr Frank Mba said it was the command’s responsibility to provide security for the general public.
``It is a novel development and as long as there is no breach of the public peace, there will be no problem. The security you see is to secure the protesters, as well as residents of Lagos,’’ he said.
The Lagos state police commissioner, Mr Marvel Akpoyibo said on Tuesday that the command would provide security for the protesters.
He said that the security cover would ensure that miscreants did not take undue advantage of the situation to molest residents of the state.
In an effort to contain any acts of lawlessness, the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mike Okiro also warned against any security breach arising from the protest which the organisers said would be peaceful.
Okiro directed police commissioners in other states to meet with executives of the NLC, the TUC, NUPENG, PENGASSAN and civil society groups in their various commands.
They should reach a written undertaking with them on the planned
protests.

http://www.triumphnewspapers.com/bad1452009.html

Old news. Anything that gets citizens more involved in the government process and push for better governance is welcomed. If only they could take the march to Aso Rock. A shame there weren't more participants.

Excellent move !!! I hope they do not back down until they see results soon.