Decries Criminalization of protests
By Our Reporter
The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has demanded the reversal of what it called “ill-conceived” policies of the federal government which led the nation into an economic hardship and resulted in the current #EndBadGovernance protests.
A communique jointly signed by the NLC President, Joe Ajaero and the General Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja, at the union’s emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on Wednesday, stated that Nigerians took to the streets in a protest tagged #EndBadGovernance, in response to President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies.
The union also noted that demonstrators vented their frustrations about the insensitivity of public officials and over the perceived lack of effective governance in the country.
But the Tinubu-led administration had argued that its reforms such as electricity tariff, devaluation of the Nigerian currency were necessary to rejig the Nigerian economy, many Nigerians have been negatively affected by the effects of the policies.
On Wednesday, the NLC reacted to the spate of protests in the country, emphasizing that the government cannot prevent a democratic protest by threatening the people who are already bearing the burnt and sacrificing their lives as unarmed protesters by the police.
The NLC noted that the right to protest is a fundamental democratic right, and its suppression through “violence is unacceptable,” and decried the continuous trivialisation of treasonable felony by the government operatives.
The Labour Union said that: “The attempt to criminalise protest is completely deplorable especially in a democracy. The hiring and use of sponsored thugs and divisive propaganda in an effort to scuttle the protests is most unfortunate.
“The NEC in session also frowns strongly at the unwarranted use of subterfuge on the congress by the government through the Federal Ministry of Labour as it concerns our rights to political participation. It noted the unprofessional and unethical conduct of the minister of labour through the registrar of trade unions in wilfully misdirecting a politically motivated letter to NLC. It is tendentious, mischievous and provocative,” the communique reads.
In light of the concerns raised, the labour body called for the reversal of all the “ill-conceived policies that have led to the current economic crisis.”
It called on the government to implement policies that prioritise the welfare of the people, create jobs, and ensure fair distribution of resources among the citizens.
It also stated that NEC in session mandated the national leadership to decide on the day NLC will set aside as a national day of mourning in honour of those who were maimed and lost their lives in the ongoing #EndBadGovernance nationwide protests, apart from calling for an independent investigation into the killings and maiming of protesters in the country.
The communique noted that, “Those responsible for these heinous acts must be held accountable, and justice must be served to the victims and their families. All the peaceful protesters held illegally and unconstitutionally in the government’s gulag must be freed without delay.
“The NEC-in-session urges the federal government to engage in meaningful dialogue with representatives of the protesters, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders to resolve all the issues at stake to end the national carnage. This is to avoid the NLC being compelled to direct its members to stay home for the safety of their lives.
NLC called for the implementation of immediate relief measures to alleviate the suffering of workers and the general populace, to include the provision of direct food aid, subsidies on essential commodities, and other social safety nets, that could have direct impact on the people, without being unduly taken over by politicians.
According to the NLC, the NEC in session called on the federal government to call its officials to order, especially the minister of labour and the registrar of trade unions, from colluding with retrogressive political elements seeking to abridge its rights as workers and trade unions to political participation.
“We demand the immediate withdrawal of that intrusive and misplaced unsolicited advice from the registrar of trade unions to avert industrial crisis as the congress and its affiliates will stop recognising and relating with him.
“The NEC finally calls on all Nigerian workers to remain united and resolute in their demands for better governance. Solidarity is our strength, and together, we can amplify the voices of the people and demand justice and accountability,” it stated.
The NEC directed all workers in the country to keep themselves safe in the face of the ongoing protests, saying,
“Continue to take measures to protect themselves as the masses try to make their voices heard. We must maintain our commitment to non-violence and ensure that our actions are lawful and disciplined as the people protest.”
According to officials, the communique was released before security operatives raided the headquarters of the NLC in Abuja.
NLC spokesperson, Benson Upah, had informed that ‘heavily armed’ security operatives broke into the second floor of the union’s Secretariat and combed its bookshop, carting away several books, including other publications.
The Union’s spokesperson had on Thursday morning also demanded the immediate withdrawal of the armed security men.
About The Author
