The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on the Nigerian Police to arrest an aide of Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State over the alleged role he played in an attempt to disrupt labour movement protest against the sack of some 36,000 workers in Kaduna state civil service in Kaduna in Wednesday
The Labour Union in a press statement signed by its General Secretary, Dr Peter Ozo-Eson accused malam Mukhtar Maigamo of sponsoring thugs armed with dangerous weapon to disrupt the labour protest.
According to the statement “We have been reliably informed that the thugs who were sent to attack workers during our mass protest in Kaduna yesterday were led by the Special Assistant to the Governor of Kaduna State on Public Affairs, Mouktar Maigamo who was seen among the machetes wielding hoodlums as they moved towards the secretariat of the State Council of Nigeria Labour Congress in Kaduna.
It was further stated that “Though we have also been reliably informed that 10 of the hoodlums were arrested, we insist that the Special Assistant must also be arrested. All those arrested must be prosecuted by security agencies.
The labour union added that “We condemn the security agencies for preventing several union leaders and workers from entering Kaduna city as all the entry points were occupied by heavily armed security agents.
“The actions of the security agents, ostensibly at the behest of the Governor, are clear violations of the fundamental rights of workers, like every other Nigerian, to free movement.
“Before the mass protests, we had informed all security agencies especially the Police and Department of State Security and what we expected of them was the provision of adequate coverage and security for the protection of workers participating in the procession and not to prevent entry of labour leaders and workers into Kaduna city.
“For us, the actions of the police, army and other security agencies, who chose to act against the people on the orders of the State Government cannot and will not deter us from taking further mass actions against the illegal and irresponsible sack of workers in Kaduna State.
The statement read this “We are fully determined to ensure the recall of all the sacked workers and will not relent in our efforts as we will use every lawful means to compel el-Rufai to reverse his anti-workers stance.
“The mass actions just got started and nobody, group of persons or authority can stop us as peaceful protests are not only lawful but a fundamental right of the Nigerian people as guaranteed by the constitution and strengthened by the Supreme Court.
The only way the mass protests and strike can be stopped is by the Governor respecting the judgement of the National Industrial Court by reversing the sack of over 36, 000 workers
