May order workers to stay at home
By Omolade Adegbuyi
The Nigerian Labour Congress, (NLC) has declared the immediate withdrawal of armed soldiers from its National secretariat.
The central labour union said at about 8.30pm on Thursday long after the close of work, a troop of heavily armed security operatives invaded the Labour House, Central Business District, Abuja, which serves as the National Headquarters and Secretariat of the Nigeria Labour Congress(NLC).
An official of the All Peoples Congress, (APC) who did bot wish to be named said a section of labour had declared full support for a Presidential aspirants, Mr Peter Obi putting the central labour organisation in the class of political opposition that is ready to take power from the APC.
“Today, a section of NLC is consciously working with Peter Obi. It means they are no longer talking of workers’ interests but raising the question of political power. The Federal Government has no little option than to view the NLC from that angle,” he said.
A statement made available to Irohinoodua and signed by Head, Media and Public Relations Comrade Benson Upah said the security operatives, some from the Nigeria Police Force, some wearing black tee-shirts presumably from the Department of State Services (DSS), and others on outright muftis swooped on the 10th floor NLC and arrested the security man on duty and then commandeered him to the second floor, where he was asked to produce the keys to the offices.
“When he told them that he had no such keys on him, they broke into the floor and ransacked the bookshop on the 2nd floor, carting away hundreds of books and other publications.
He said the invading troop claimed that they were looking for seditious material used for the #EndBadGoveranance Protests.
Upah said labour condemns in its entirety the new low in security operations in Nigeria.
It said the armed security operatives showed no legal document permitting them to invade the premises in the ungodly hours of the night.
“Even in the dark days of military rule, NLC secretariats were never invaded and ransacked by security agents. Today is indeed a very sad day for our democracy.”
Labour recalled that on Thursday afternpon the National Executive Council of the NLC took note and vehemently condemned the high handed manner that security agents manhandled protesters in many parts of the country and the needless bloodshed that ensued.
“We also condemned the sweeping mass arrests of those perceived to have led the protest. The NEC also frowned at the reckless use of ‘treason’ to describe the protest and demand for moderation. What we did not see coming was the invasion of the Labour House by masked and heavily armed security operatives hours later.”
Labour said in the light of the foregoing and the ominous sign, it portends for democratic rights, freedom of speech and association, and the unimpeachable right of citizens to protest peacefully on any issue they feel strongly about, we call on the international community to take note of the deterioration of democratic principles in the bid to turn Nigeria into a Police State.
“Given the experience of the leadership of the NLC in recent times at the receiving end of the naked brute force of the state, especially the near daylight assassination of the NLC President by security operatives and thugs, our fears of a Nigerian state that is descending into enforced brutality are well founded. We fear that the situation might deteriorate” Upah said.
He said labour has directed all its staff to stay away from the Labour House for now until it is certain that there are no incriminating materials or harmful substances dropped in offices by the invading operatives.
“In order to allay our fears, we demand an international inquiry into this very traumatic invasion.”
The NLC also demanded the immediate withdrawal of the troop of invading security agents from the premises of the Labour House, Abuja.
“We also demand that all the books and materials carted away by the invading security operatives should be returned unfailingly to where they were taken from before the end of work tomorrow, 8th August 2024. We make this demand given the illegality of the operation as there was no court order for the invasion, ransacking, and looting of the publications.”
It noted that if the harassment continues, Labour will not hesitate to call on its members to stay home until their safety and security are assured.
“We warn that the asphyxiation of the public space and channels for constructive engagement, dialogue, and negotiations in light of the excruciating difficulties that Nigerians are going through right now would only make matters worse.”