Labour building raid: Police, Nigerian government must apologise, union leadership declares
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has demanded a public apology from the police for allegedly raiding its secretariat and equally rejected the police’s explanation for their operatives’ raid describing it as an afterthought.
Penpushing reports that made the request in a communique issued following an emergency meeting of its National Executive Committee (NEC) held on Saturday to deliberate on the incident, and same vein called on the Nigerian government to tender an apology
The communique signed by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Comrade Joe Ajaero emphasized that the invasion and desecration of its headquarters was a deliberate and provocative government action.
‘The NEC consequently demands apology from the police and the Federal Government on this once again unwarranted invasion and desecration of the headquarters of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC)’, the communique reads.
Penpushing further reports that Ajaero said while the union would exercise restraint in the face of provocation, warned that the response of the government to the request will determine the labour next line of action in the coming days
‘The response of the government to our queries will determine what our next line of action will be in the coming days. The police’s explanation was an afterthought and an attempt to cover the hidden motives behind such action as it raises more questions than answers’, the statement added
Penpushing also reports that the General Secretary of the labour, Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja, had earlier faulted the police’s account of the incident, explaining that the claim by the police that their operatives only visited a bookstore within the 10-storey building where the union occupies the topmost three floors to arrest a foreign national was deceit
The union scribe said contrary to the claim the invading police officers forced their way into the union’s offices during the raid, just as the communique noted that there has been a pattern of intimidation, brutality, and deceit against the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Nigerian people since President Bola Tinubu took over power.
Penpushing reports that Ajaero, called for a forensic audit of the national headquarters of the union following the ugly development adding that the leadership would address a press conference on the incident.
The President announced an indefinite suspension of the union’s operations at its national secretariat, citing increasing concerns over the safety of its members and the protection of trade union rights across the country.
FOOTNOTE: You want to share story with us? You want to advertise with us? You need publicity for product, or service, or event? Contact us on WhatsApp +2348073463653 or email [email protected]
