Jumoke Olasunkanmi
The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has condemned the violent clash at the National Secretariat of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Abuja on Tuesday, saying that the clash which resulted in loss of lives, injuries and property damage could have been avoided if the police had heeded its warning.
The Congress faulted the police, saying in a press statement signed by its vice president, Kabiru Minjibir, on Friday, that its officers ousted a democratically elected executive from office and foisted an illegitimate leadership on the union.
The NLC added that it foresaw the challenges this irregularity would cause and as such, made it a prominent agenda of the a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on August 31, prior to its 2-day warning strike on the 5th and 6th of September.
It stated: “We raised alarm regarding the actions of the Police targeting the legitimate leadership of the Union, and the hidden motives behind wresting control for the benefit of a select few who invoked the name of the President of Nigeria, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu. We implored the Police leadership to reassess their actions and align them with the legal framework and international standards that govern industrial relations.
“Regrettably, instead of heeding our plea, the Police extended their support in the unlawful occupation of the Union’s national headquarters, in stark violation of established legal and industrial relations norms. The democratically elected leadership of the Union was forcibly ousted while the area was cordoned off by the Police.
“We emphasised the peril this illegality posed to peace and its adverse implications for our democratic traditions. Recognising its gravity, the issue was prominently featured in the agenda of the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the Congress on August 31st. NEC members unanimously condemned the Police’s actions, which became our second reason leading to the successful nationwide 2-Day Warning Strike on the 5th and 6th of this month.
“Despite our forewarnings, the Police persisted in their unlawful intervention, providing cover for those imposing themselves on the Union. We engaged in discussions with the Police leadership, reaching an understanding on a roadmap towards peace to safeguard lives and property. It is disheartening that our concerns were not heeded and the roadmap unimplemented.”
The union call on Police authorities to promptly release the democratically elected Union leaders from detention and conduct a fair investigation into the violence, saying, “our nation cannot afford to entertain any semblance of impunity or bias, especially at this critical juncture. Let us refrain from exacerbating an already precarious situation with actions that may be construed as partiality towards illegality.”
