NLC threatens protest in Akwa Ibom over N100,000 dispatch rider permit

The Akwa Ibom state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued a strong warning of industrial action. The union is protesting a N100,000 permit fee imposed on dispatch riders by the state's transport ministry. The NLC alleges that the ministry is engaging in intimidation tactics and unlawfully seizing motorcycles belonging to riders who fail to comply with the new requirement.

The union has accused the transport ministry of harassment and extortion. They claim that the N100,000 fee is excessive and that the seizure of motorcycles is an arbitrary and illegal act. The NLC is demanding the immediate reversal of the permit fee and an end to what they describe as the ministry's oppressive practices.

Failure to address these grievances, the NLC stated, will result in a full-scale industrial action. The union's threat signals a significant labor dispute brewing in Akwa Ibom, with potential disruptions to services reliant on dispatch riders if the demands are not met.