The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has detailed the invasion of its headquarters, Labour House, in Abuja by armed security operatives on Wednesday night. The NLC is calling for an international inquiry into what it describes as a traumatic and unprecedented invasion.
In a statement by Benson Upah, the NLC’s Head of Media and Public Relations, the Congress also instructed its staff to avoid the Labour House until they can be certain no incriminating materials or harmful substances were left by the operatives.
The statement highlighted, “This evening at about 8:30 pm, long after the close of work, a troop of heavily armed security operatives invaded the Labour House, Central Business District, Abuja, the National Headquarters and Secretariat of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).”
Upah further detailed that the operatives, some identifiable as Nigeria Police Force, some presumed to be from the Department of State Services (DSS), and others in plainclothes, targeted the 10th Floor of the NLC building. They arrested the on-duty security operative and demanded keys to the offices. When the keys were not produced, they broke into the second floor and ransacked the bookshop, seizing hundreds of books and other publications. The operatives claimed they were searching for seditious materials used for the #EndBadGovernance protests.
Condemning the invasion, the NLC stated, “Even in the dark days of military rule, NLC secretariats were never invaded and ransacked by security agents. Today is indeed a very sad day for our democracy.” They noted the absence of any legal document authorizing the invasion, highlighting the illegal nature of the operation.
The NLC has requested the immediate withdrawal of security operatives from its premises and the return of all seized books and materials by the end of the workday on August 8, 2024. They emphasized, “Given the state of things, the Nigeria Labour Congress has directed all its staff to stay away from the Labour House for now until we are certain that there are no incriminating materials or harmful substances dropped in our offices by the invading operatives.”
The Congress also called on the international community to take note of the deteriorating democratic principles in Nigeria, warning that the continuous harassment and invasion of public spaces would exacerbate the current hardships faced by Nigerians.
“If this harassment continues, the Nigeria Labour Congress will not hesitate to call on its members to stay home until their safety and security are assured. We warn that the asphyxiation of the public space and channels for constructive engagement, dialogue, and negotiations in light of the excruciating difficulties that Nigerians are going through right now would only make matters worse. A stitch in time might still save nine!” the statement concluded.
