Connect with us

News

Secretariat raid: NLC demands detained members release, documents

Published

on

The Nigeria Labour Congress has accused the government of declaring war against the union, following the recent raid on its headquarters by security forces.

At a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, NLC leaders rejected the police explanation for the invasion and demanded an apology, as well as the return of seized items and the release of detained individuals.

The NLC also criticised the government’s attempts to interfere with the union’s internal affairs, including a proposed reduction in the tenure of trade union leaders.

They argued that this violated labour laws and international conventions.

Advertisement

Security agents had, on July 7, conducted a night raid on the NLC national secretariat in Abuja.

According to the NLC spokesperson, Benson Upah, the operatives burst into the building at about 8.30 pm and arrested the security guards, forcing them to hand over keys to the offices on the second floor.

Upah said, “The security operatives, some from the Nigeria Police Force, some wearing black tee-shirts, presumably from the Department of State Services, and others on outright mufti, swooped on the 10th Floor of the NLC and arrested the security operative on duty and then commandeered him to the second floor where he was asked to produce the keys to the offices.

“When he told them that he had no such keys on him, they broke into the floor and ransacked the bookshop on the second floor, carting away hundreds of books and other publications. The invading troops claimed that they were looking for seditious materials used for the #EndBadGoveranance protests.”

Advertisement

While the DSS, through its spokesman, Peter Afunanya, denied involvement in the raid, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, confirmed that the raid was carried out by the police, saying a terrorist involved in Sudanese crisis was traced to the labour building.

“One of them was traced to the Labour House the other day. I was just wondering why the noise about the raid of the Labour House when the police did not raid the Labour House.

“We raided the shop where the individual was using as a front. We have been monitoring his activities, he was very active in the Sudan crisis, and he is in Nigeria mobilising people to destabilise our country,” Egbetokun said.

But at the press conference on Thursday, labour leaders rejected the explanation by the police, insisting that the raid was illegal.

Advertisement

“We want to reiterate that even though we are the owners of barricades, we did not participate in the #Endhunger protest.

The government, therefore, should not rope us into something we knew nothing about. Accordingly we ask the government to release those in its custody, including a NUEE executive (Comrade Opalua Eleojo), who was arrested at a social spot in Abuja.

“We advise the government to stop further acts of intimidation against the Nigeria Labour Congress and indeed against the generality of Nigerians,” the NLC said.

While linking the raid to the tussle between the NLC and the Labour Party, the union warned that any attempt by the government to meddle in its internal affairs was illegal and would be resisted.

Advertisement

“The Registrar of Trade Unions, acting on orders from above wrote a letter of threat on our relationship with the Labour Party, citing Section 15 (2) (3) (4) of the Trade Unions Act.

“In their bid to suppress our voice, they forgot the provisions of sections 39 to 40 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended; the Supreme Court decision on the right of public servants to hold political views; the provisions of the African Charter on People and Human Rights, as well as ILO Conventions 87 and 98.

“The government is also frantically working to reduce to two the number of years trade unionists could hold office. This constitutes a gross interference in the internal running of the trade unions in violation of the corpus of Labour Law and ILO Conventions.”

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

News

Tinubu expresses sadness over Ibadan stamped victims, demands probe

Published

on

President Bola Tinubu has expressed sadness over the victims of the tragic incident at a children’s funfair in Ibadan, Oyo State, which claimed innocent lives and left many others injured.

A day after the tragic incident, 35 minors have been confirmed dead in a stampede at a funfair held at Islamic High School, Orita Bashorun, the state capital.

The President in a statement by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, extended his condolences to the government and people of Oyo State and, most importantly, to the grieving families who have lost their children in the unfortunate event.

President Tinubu has urgently directed the relevant authorities to investigate the circumstances of this tragedy thoroughly,” the statement read.

Advertisement

The President extends his heartfelt condolences to the Government and people of Oyo State, as well as to the grieving families who have lost their beloved children.

“In this moment of mourning, President Tinubu stands in solidarity with the affected families and offers prayers that the Almighty God will grant peace to the souls of those who have departed in this unfortunate event.”

Tinubu highlighted that it is imperative to determine whether negligence or deliberate actions contributed to this painful incident, ensuring a transparent and accountable process.

He also urged the Oyo State Government to take every necessary measure to prevent such a tragedy from reoccurring.

Advertisement

Among the essential actions are a comprehensive review of all public events’ safety measures, strict enforcement of safety regulations, and regular safety audits of event venues.

“Furthermore, President Tinubu calls on event organisers to prioritise the safety of all attendees, especially children. He stresses the importance of integrating professional security, protocol, and logistics at events to ensure the utmost safety of all participants,” the statement read.

He reiterated his administration’s commitment to the safety and well-being of children, arguing that no event should ever compromise their safety or take precedence over their lives.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

News

How soldiers damaged my house for doing my job – ECTDA Chair, Hon. Uche Anya

Published

on

The Chairman of the Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority, ECTDA, Rt. Hon. Uche Anya has narrated how soldiers from 82 Division of the Nigeria Army invaded his residence by 2.30am and destroyed his residence for carrying out a town planning regulation on an army property in Enugu.

According to Anya, the soldiers who some of them were on mufti, in the wee hours of Sunday morning, invaded his residence with armoured personnel carriers, forcefully jumped into his compound and destroyed most parts of his house and abducted him.

His offence, he explained, was that he demolished a fence that was being made round an army property at GRA area of the Coal City, which the army did not obtain approval plan and permit from his office before embarking on the construction.

“We pleaded with them that we are from the ECTDA and needed to see their approved plan and permit but they asked me to call the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division, Enugu.

Advertisement

“We insisted on seeing their approval, which they did not provide, leading to our stopping them from working and marking the place with ‘Stop Work’ notice immediately.”

He said that he thereafter reached out to the GOC and informed him about what transpired, but that the army said that they were trying to secure their land.

“I told him that under our law, once a development is taking place in the capital territory, there must be permission. So, three days later, in the course of our routine work, we discovered that they had wiped out our stop work order and proceeded with the work. We rolled down our equipment and pulled down the fence because they reneged on our agreement,” Anya narrated.

The Capital Territory Chairman said that two hours later, he started noticing strange movement around his street, with some people taking photographs.

Advertisement

“So, around 2:30a.m, two Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) arrived on my street. Some people in mufti with guns jumped into my compound and I was seeing them through my CCTV. They tried to break into the house but it took them almost 90 minutes to break in through the kitchen.”

When our correspondent visited Anya’s residence, there was a total smash of most properties in the house starting from the gate to the entrance door and windows, television sets, CCTV cameras and so many other things were in complete ruin.

Continue Reading

News

Ooni’s Ex- Wife, Naomi, 7 Others, In Trouble As 35 Kids Killed In Oyo Stampede

Published

on

The Oyo State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of Prophetess Naomi Silekunola, the estranged wife of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and seven others for the Christmas party tragedy in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The police also in a statement by SP Osifeso Adewale, added that 35 children had been confirmed dead so far with six others critically

Recall that Agidigbo FM, a prominent private radio station, disclaimed involvement in the ill-fated children’s festive party that tragically resulted in multiple deaths on Wednesday morning in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.

SaharaReporters earlier broke the news about how tragedy struck on Wednesday morning at the Islamic High School in Bashorun, Ibadan when a stampede occurred during a children’s Christmas party.

Advertisement

The station’s management clarified they were not sponsors or organisers of the event, contrary to initial reports. It identified the organiser as WINGS (Women In Need Of Guidance and Support), whose founder is Queen Naomi Silekunola Ogunwusi, the ex-wife of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi.

Eyewitnesses report that many children were trampled in the chaos, with several others injured.

Meanwhile the police statement said, “Sequel to the stampede incident recorded on Wednesday 18/12/2024 at the Islamic High School, Basorun, Ibadan venue of the family event Organized by Wings Foundation and Media partners Agidigbo FM, the Oyo State Police Command wishes to inform the good people of the State that (8) Persons have since been arrested for their various involvements.

“These persons include the main event sponsor, Prophetess Naomi Silekunola ’f’ age 31yrs, Fasasi Abdulahi, ’m’ age 56yrs (School Principal Islamic High School, Ibadan), Genesis Christopher, ’m’ age 24yrs, Tanimowo Moruf,’m’ age 52yrs, Anisolaja Olabode, ‘m’ age 42yrs, Idowu Ibrahim, ‘m’ age 35yrs and Abiola Oluwatimilehin, ’m’ age 25yrs.

Advertisement

“So far (35) Thirty-Five Minors have been documented Dead while (6) Six others are critically injured and on various Medical Interventions.

“In furtherance of the above, the case has since been transferred to the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Iyaganku with the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge leading the investigations.

“So also, residents around the axis are advised not to panic as they would witness high level patrols and visible Police presence to prevent hoodlums from taking advantage of the unfortunate situation.

“Finally, the Oyo State Police Command sympathizes with all the families and loved ones affected by the tragedy and assures the good people of the State that Justice will be served accordingly.”

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2024 Naija Blitz News