The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), on Sunday, demanded an instantaneous apology from the federal authorities and the Nigeria Police Drive (NPF) following Wednesday night time’s invasion of its nationwide headquarters in Abuja by safety forces.
The decision was made regardless of the reason given by the police authorities that the NLC constructing was by no means the goal of its operation and in addition stating the explanations for the raid.
Nevertheless, after an emergency Nationwide Government Council (NEC) assembly of the NLC on Saturday, the Labour Centre rejected the police’s clarification for the invasion, whereas dismissing it as an afterthought designed to obscure the true motives behind the federal government’s actions.
In a communique signed by the NLC president, Comrade Joe Ajaero in Abuja, NEC expressed deep concern over the August 7 invasion, which happened shortly after a essential assembly to debate the welfare of employees amid ongoing nationwide protests in opposition to poor governance and hardship.
The Council condemned the invasion as an unprecedented act that threatened the protection of Nigerian employees and undermined the rights of commerce unions as protected below Worldwide Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions and the Nigerian Structure.
Along with demanding an apology, the NEC introduced plans for a forensic safety audit of the NLC headquarters to make sure its security and directed a short lived cessation of actions on the headquarters till the audit was accomplished.
The NLC additional accused the federal government of systematically intimidating and oppressing the Labour motion, citing a sample of threats, propaganda, and unfulfilled guarantees aimed toward stifling the NLC’s efforts to advocate for employees’ rights.
Amongst different resolutions, the NEC demanded the fast launch of detained commerce unionists and an finish to the harassment of these holding opposing ideologies. It additionally referred to as for a Nationwide Day of Mourning to honour these killed throughout current nationwide protests in opposition to starvation and urged the federal government to convene an inclusive stakeholders’ dialogue to deal with the basis causes of the continued unrest in Nigeria.
The communique learn in elements: “The NEC highlighted the current invasion of the NLC headquarters, following a biased letter from the Registrar of Commerce Unions, as a part of a coordinated assault to silence the NLC, which has turn out to be the final stronghold of fashionable voice in Nigeria.
The NEC consequently calls for apology from the Police and the federal authorities on this as soon as once more unwarranted invasion and desecration of the headquarters of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
“The NEC calls on the federal government to ensure the protection and safety of all Nigerian employees, commerce unions, and the NLC and TUC to function freely throughout the nation with out worry of hurt or violence.
“The NLC was not a part of the current democratic protests, which had been a response to the widespread hardship within the nation. We demand that the federal government withdraw its brokers from all premises they’ve illegally occupied, significantly the headquarters of the Nationwide Union of Street Transport Staff (NURTW) in Abuja and Street Transport Employers Affiliation of Nigeria (RTEAN) in Lagos.”
