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NLC President, Joe Ajaero
The Nigeria Labour Congress has accused the government of declaring war against the organsation, following the recent raid on its headquarters by security forces.
At a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, NLC leaders rejected the police explanation for the invasion and demanded an apology, as well as the return of seized items and the release of detained individuals.
The NLC also criticised government attempts to interfere with the organisation’s internal affairs, including a proposed reduction in the tenure of trade union leaders. They argued that this violates labor laws and international conventions.
Recall that the police had claimed that the raid on the headquarters of the NLC was aimed at apprehending an international terrorist suspect, but the NLC dismissed this as a cover-up, pointing out contradictions in the police account.
The NLC reiterated its demands for a stakeholders’ conference to address pressing national issues, including hunger, poverty, and insecurity. They also advised the government to stop meddling in the affairs of opposition parties and to focus on dialogue with honest Nigerians.
The organisation warned that it would hold the police responsible for any future incidents at its headquarters or against its leaders and members.
“The Registrar of Trade Unions acting on orders from above wrote a letter of threat on our relationship with Labour Party, citing Section 15 sub-sections 2, 3, 4 of the Trade Unions Act.
“In their bid to suppress our voice, they forgot the provisions of Sections 39 – to 40 of the 1999 constitution as amended, the Supreme Court decision on the right of public servants to hold political views, the provisions of African Charter on People and Human Rights as well as ILO Conventions 87 and 98.
“Government is also frantically working to reduce to two the number of years trade unionists could hold office. This constitutes a gross interference in the internal running of the trade unions in violation of the corpus of Labour Law and ILO Conventions.
“ We want to reiterate that even though we are the owners of barricades, we did not participate in the End-Hunger protest. Government therefore should not rope us into something we knew nothing about. Accordingly we ask government to release those in its custody including a NUEE executive (Comrade Opalua Eleojo) who was arrested at a social spot in Abuja.
“We advise the government to stop further acts of intimidation against the Nigeria Labour Congress and indeed against the generality o Nigerians.
