The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has demanded an immediate apology from the Federal Government and the police for the unwarranted invasion of its headquarters last week Wednesday.
The Congress also called for a forensic security audit of its headquarters to ascertain its safety and continued suitability for the use of workers. The demands were made in a communiqué during an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the NLC, held at the weekend to address the invasion of its national headquarters by alleged security apparatchik of the Federal Government.
Its president, Joe Ajaero, said until a forensic safety audit is conducted, workers have been directed on temporary cessation of use of the headquarters to mitigate every unforeseen disaster that might have been intended.
He alleged that the invasion by the police was a deliberate provocation by government and, as such, would not allow itself to act out of anger but to exercise caution for the greater sake of the nation.
He said the NEC-in-session rejects the explanation offered by the police as the reason for the invasion, describing it as an afterthought and an attempt to cover the hidden motives behind such action as it raises more questions than answers.
Demanding a clear explanation from government as quickly as possible, Ajaero insisted that “in the midst of recklessness, insanity and irresponsibility, patriots would always take the high road of restraint.”
He stated that this was what was required now and the response of the government to its queries would determine what its next line of action would be in the coming days.
While reaffirming NLC’s commitment to defending the rights and welfare of Nigerian workers, Ajaero said the congress would not hesitate to take all necessary actions to ensure their safety and well-being.
Ajaero lamented that since the current administration took office, there has been a pattern of intimidation, brutality, and deceit against the NLC and Nigerian people.
In an another development, the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) has called for the release of its member, Eleojo Opaluwa, in Maraba, Nasarawa State, who was allegedly whisked away by security personnel to an unknown destination.
Acting General Secretary of NUEE, Dominic Igwebike, in a statement yesterday, said Opaluwa left his house on Sunday, August 4, at about 2:00p.m. and has not returned home since then.
He alleged that on that same August 4 at about 5:00p.m., some security personnel in a Toyota SUV went to its liaison office at Area 8, Garki, to ask after Opaluwa, while on August 8, at about 5:30p.m., Opaluwa was brought to his office by some security officers to search NUEE office, denying him access to talk with his colleagues, and then whisked him out again in their vehicles (one Hilux and a golf car) to an unknown destination. Every effort to reach him on the phone, Igwebike said was all to no avail.
“We visited some police stations at Maraba and environs, but they denied having him in their custody. We contacted our lawyer to write to the National Security Adviser to the President, intimating to him of the predicament of Comrade Opaluwa where he is denied access to his lawyer, family, and freedom of movement amongst other rights.
“We hereby demand without further delay the immediate release of Opaluwa Eleojo was been illegally detained since August 4 till date. This is a flagrant abuse of his rights as a citizen of Nigeria,” he said. (Guardian)
