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Tell Nigerians to sit-at-home, during strike
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Call for prosecution of those who brutalised Ajero
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Say Tinubu, Uzodinma must apologise to workers
The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), the United Action Front of Civil Society has condemned the hostile disposition of President Bola Tinubu’s administration to constructive opposition and labour activism since assumption of office.
The group in a press statement on Tuesday signed by its spokesperson, Olawale Okunniyi, stated that labour rights and civil opposition are under siege in Nigeria.
It accused the government of using black market court order and political thugs to undermine labour rights and opposition, stressing that those who brutalised the president of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajero must be punished.
The statement read, “It’s becoming crystal clear by the day that the All Progressives Congress (APC) led federal government is out to criminalise civil opposition and labour activism in a desperate attempt to cripple vibrant platforms of the of the Nigerian polity in furtherance of its dubious agenda of neo colonialist policies fraught with profligacy and corruption with attendant negative consequences manifesting in excruciating multi-dimensional poverty as well as codified hardship on the masses.
“The federal government has so far remained evasive and appeared not committed to fulfilling the agreement it reached with labour. We’re concerned that rather than fulfil the agreement with labour and bring succor to the downtrodden working masses of Nigeria, it is unfortunate that government is embarking on smear campaigns, criminalisation and targeted attacks and brutality of labour and opposition leaders.
“The manipulative use of court orders by government to frustrate and truncate the legitimate rights and demand of workers and masses by the present administration is another condemnable and irresponsible trend to be employed by a supposed democratic government
“Prior to the most condemnable brutalisation of NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero in Owerri, Imo State capital recently by agents of the Supreme Court Governor of Imo State, Mr. Hope Uzodinma, the leadership of the United Action Front of Civil Society had observed with consternation, the subtle and naked tactics of blackmail being deployed by officials of the Tinubu administration.
“Since the inauguration of the Tinubu’s Presidency, his handlers have embarked on deliberate but futile media campaigns aimed at denigrating the leadership of the NLC and Trade Union Congress, TUC in the desperation to discredit principled demands for better welfare package for Nigerian workers and unflinching commitment of workers to the defence of the rights of the masses. It is on record that officials of the Tinubu administration; particularly his spokespersons have embarked on media campaigns aimed at discrediting the NLC and Comrade Joe Ajaero.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the United Action Front of Civil Society wishes to reiterate unalloyed support for the NLC, the TUC as well as rank and file leadership of labour and civil opposition in Nigeria, who have remained committed to ameliorating the sufferings and unprecedented hardship of Nigerian masses.
“We therefore wish to salute the unshaken and unbroken commitment of the NLC and TUC for the defence of the rights of Nigerian workers and masses whose future has been mortgaged through the anti-people policies of government, which continue to make flamboyant lifestyles of public office holders seemingly justifiable in the face of excruciating hardship of the masses who unfortunately are persistently called upon to make sacrifices; and more sacrifices.
“Enamoured by the dehumanizing treatment of Comrade Joe Ajaero in the hands of Hope Uzodinma agents and thugs in connivance with the men of the Nigeria police, the United Action Front of Civil Society is aware of plans by the federal government to unleash more terror on the leadership of the NLC / TUC through orchestrated anarchy to be machinated by paid thugs of government in Lagos and Abuja as well as other locations across country.
“The planned attacks on labour unionists and civil society activists is aimed at further stirring up confusion and to blackmail NLC and TUC leadership as irresponsible and plotting insurrection against the government.
“In the same manner armed thugs were unleashed on peaceful and defenseless EndSARS protesters, the plot against the NLC / TUC is to deploy agent provocateurs to unleash terror and then blamed the incidents on the leadership of the labour and its allies.
The leadership of the United Action Front of Civil Society again wishes to reiterate our demand that the Bola Tinubu Presidency and Hope Uzodinma of Imo State apologize to Nigerian workers and people in general for the brutalisation of No 1 Worker of Nigeria, Comrade Joe Ajaero by State Agents and political thugs of the APC during a peaceful workers rally in Imo State as we condemn the deployment of soldiers to intimidate labour leaders as witnessed at the Abuja Airport during last rally of NLC and TUC to protest the brutalisation of NLC President.
“We therefore condemn the hypocrisy of President Tinubu and the APC who exploited the gains of popular democratic struggles of the Nigerian Civil Society to gain accendancy to power, only to turn intolerant and monstrous against popular protests and Civil resistance against injustice and all forms of undemocratic practices. To this end, we condemn the deployment of soldiers and armed thugs to intimidate and attack protesting workers and opposition leaders, who are simply exercising constitutional rights within the ambit of democracy.
“We call on Nigerian people and masses to manifestly support and back up the nationwide strike action declared by the NLC and TUC to protest the brutalisation of Comrade Joe Ajaero. We call on Nigerians and the masses in general through organised neighbourhood mass protests and Sit At Home Protest Action to demand respect for the rights of workers and dignity of civil opposition in Nigeria. The infringement on the rights to protest and demand better welfare is most undemocratic, condemnable and unacceptable. We call on Nigerians across cities, communities and neighbourhoods to rally support for the national strike.
“Lastly, we call on civil society groups, community associations, faith-based groups, students organisations, women groups, peoples with disabilities (PWDs), professional groups, artisans, farmers, traders and well meaning citizens and individuals across board to be united in demanding the stoppage of intimidation and dehumanisation of labour leaders and indeed of Opposition leaders. We call on Nigerians from all walks of life to join forces and make their voices heard in the defence of labour rights and dignity of the opposition as we commend the courage of both the NLC and TUC to embark on this defining indefinite strike action, while reaffirming that the national strike declared by the NLC and TUC is in the collective interest of the citizens and masses of our country.
“We demand justice for Comrade Joe Ajaero and Nigerian workers.
“We say no to the use of political thugs and the military against civil protests in our democracy.
“We say no to the use of black market court order to frustrate the legitimate rights and demand of workers and citizens, “the statement added.
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