The Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom, Mr Solomon Arase, has commended the peaceful conduct of protesters?against fuel subsidy removal in the state, noting that no incident was recorded.
Arase said in Uyo on Friday that Monday's rally against fuel subsidy removal by labour unions and other groups was peaceful and orderly.
The rally at the Ibom Plaza and the subsequent protest march around streets in Uyo, the state capital, there has not been any organised protest again in the state.
“Different speakers spoke at the rally at Ibom Plaza; they then marched through Barrack Road and Brooks Street, delivered a protest letter to the state governor, who was represented by his deputy.
?“They really behaved well and we pray that other states would emulate Akwa Ibom,” Arase said.
The police commissioner?said that he was impressed that after a series of meetings with the labour leaders before the protest march, everything went on well.
He?noted that the police command had provided adequate security during the protest march, mobilising all its 7,000 personnel to flashpoints to prevent hoodlums from cashing in on the situation.
Arase expressed delight that no ugly incident occurred in the state within the period of the labour strike.?
The protest was organised by a coalition of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress and the National Association of Nigerian Students.
Others were the Civil Liberties Organisation, civil society organisations?and the Academic Staff Union of Universities.
On his impression?of the protest in the state, Mr Essien Essien, the National President, National Union of Civil Service, Secretarial and Stenographic Workers, said?it was orderly.
Also speaking, the state Chairman of the NLC, Mr Unyime Usoro, said that even if the national strike was called off, the Akwa Ibom workers would remain on strike.
According to him, the workers will be on strike?until the state government pays the?N18, 000 minimum wage correctly.
The NLC and TUC in the state had called their members out on strike since Jan. 3 to press for upward review of the N18, 000 minimum wage already paid in the state.?