THE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has condemned the recent invasion of its National Headquarters – the Labour House – by the Police, describing the act as an unprecedented violation of trade union rights and a calculated attempt to intimidate the organisation.
The National Executive Council (NEC) of the NLC held an emergency meeting on Saturday, August 10, to address the situation and deliberate on the implications for Nigerian workers and the broader labour movement.
In a statement, the NEC said that since the President Bola Tinubu-led administration took office, there had been a pattern of intimidation, brutality, and deceit against the NLC and Nigerian people.
“The government’s actions began with the President’s May 29, 2023, statement declaring the removal of subsidies, followed by efforts to suppress the NLC’s opposition through threats, divisive propaganda, and unfulfilled promises to alleviate the country’s hardships. It has been a trail of systematic intimidation and violence against trade unions and their leaders.”
The NEC also recalled several incidents of violence and intimidation against labour leaders, including the abduction and assault of the NLC President and other leaders in Owerri, Imo State, and the government’s use of legal and military means to obstruct peaceful protests.
The council criticised the government’s apparent disregard for the rights enshrined in International Labour Organization (ILO) Conventions 87 and 98, and the Nigerian Constitution.
“Additionally, the NEC highlighted the recent invasion of the NLC headquarters, following a biased letter from the Registrar of Trade Unions, as part of a coordinated attack to silence the NLC, which has become the last stronghold of popular voice in Nigeria.”
In a series of resolutions, the NEC demanded that the government guarantee the safety and security of Nigerian workers and allow trade unions to operate freely.
The council also rejected the police’s explanation for the invasion, describing it as an afterthought designed to obscure the true motives behind the action.
The NLC further called for the immediate release of all detainees arrested during recent protests and demanded an end to the harassment of citizens holding opposing ideologies.
The NEC urged the government to convene a stakeholders’ dialogue to address the root causes of recent unrest, including poverty, inflation, and insecurity. The council announced plans for a forensic security audit of the NLC headquarters to ensure its continued safety.
The NEC said it believed that the invasion by the Police was a deliberate provocation by the government and as such would not allow itself to act out of anger but to exercise caution for the greater good of our nation.
The NEC reaffirmed the NLC’s dedication to defending the rights and welfare of Nigerian workers, warning that it would take necessary actions to ensure their safety and well-being in the face of whatever challenges.
Recall that the NLC had accused personnel from the police and the State Security Service (SSS) of invading its Abuja office on Wednesday night.
According to a statement by the NLC spokesperson, Benson Upah, the operatives arrested the security guards on duty and forced them to hand over keys to the offices on the building’s second floor.
Upah added that the operatives broke into the floor, ransacked the bookshop, and stole hundreds of books and publications.
Reacting, the police said the detectives were tracing a suspect under investigation to a shop in the union’s building and the operation had no connection with the NLC secretariat or leadership.
The SSS also said it did not participate in the raid.
Nurudeen Akewushola is an investigative reporter and fact-checker with The ICIR. He believes courageous in-depth investigative reporting is the key to social justice, accountability and good governance in society. You can reach him via [email protected] and @NurudeenAkewus1 on Twitter.