The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has provided details regarding the invasion of its headquarters, the Labour House in Abuja, by armed security operatives on Wednesday night. In a statement, NLC has demanded an international inquiry into this traumatic incident. The statement, issued by the Head of Media and Public Relations, Benson Upah, has also directed all staff to stay away from the Labour House until it can be ascertained that no incriminating materials or harmful substances were left behind by the invading operatives.
Furthermore, the NLC has called on the international community to take note of the deterioration of democratic principles in the country, which appears to be an attempt to transform Nigeria into a police state. The statement further elaborates that at approximately 8:30 PM, long after the close of business hours, a troop of heavily armed security operatives invaded the Labour House, which serves as the National Headquarters and Secretariat of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), located in the Central Business District of Abuja.
“The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) strongly condemns the recent unlawful and unacceptable actions of the security operatives. When the NLC representatives informed them that they did not possess the keys to the offices, the security personnel proceeded to forcefully break into the premises and ransack the bookshop located on the second floor, carting away hundreds of books and other publications. The invading troop claimed they were searching for seditious materials used for the #EndBadGovernance Protests. The NLC condemns this unprecedented violation of its premises in the strongest possible terms. The armed security operatives presented no legal document authorizing them to invade the NLC secretariat during the late hours of the night. Even during the dark days of military rule, NLC offices were never subjected to such brazen acts of invasion and ransacking by security agents”.
Yesterday, the National Executive Council (NEC) of the NLC took note and vehemently condemned the heavy-handed manner in which security agents handled protesters in various parts of the country, resulting in unnecessary loss of life. The NEC also condemned the mass arrests of perceived protest leaders and the reckless use of ‘treason’ to describe the legitimate protest action. The NEC has demanded a more measured and proportionate response from the authorities.
The NLC calls upon the relevant authorities to thoroughly investigate this unwarranted invasion of its premises and to hold the perpetrators accountable for their actions. The NLC remains committed to the defense of workers’ rights and the advancement of democratic ideals in Nigeria, and will not be intimidated by such brazen displays of force. The Labour House was subsequently entered by masked and heavily armed security personnel.
