Attempt to hand over the union as a war booty will fail- NURTW

Oru Leonard 

The National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately speak up over the attack on its national secretariat on Monday by a group of thugs and hoodlums who claimed to be acting on orders from above.

The National President, Comrade Baruwa Tajudeen who addressed a press conference at the NUJ press Center in Abuja on Monday said the police gave the hoodlums tacit approval and backing to carry out the attack adding that when they demanded to know the reason for the invasion they were told that it was an order from above.

According to him many of their members were injured in the attack.

“The events that unfolded earlier today are deeply troubling. We were dismayed to witness a large contingent of police officers, accompanied by thugs and hoodlums, under the directive of the IGP, cordoning off and invading our National Headquarters; the National Union of Road Transport Workers, situated in Abuja.

“This alarming act was carried out with the intent to undermine the democratically elected leadership of our Union, led by Comrade Baruwa to install a puppet leadership from Lagos State.

“We must emphasize that the interference of the Government in the internal affairs of a Trade Union, as witnessed today, is a blatant violation of democratic principles.

“It does not only contradict the established legal processes for addressing industrial disputes in Nigeria, as enshrined in our Constitution but also portrays the Nigeria Police Force, under the IGP’s leadership, as a violator of the very laws it is mandated to uphold.

“We are perplexed by the IGP’s disregard for the rule of law and the Constitution, which, if allowed to persist, will undoubtedly lead to a breakdown of law and order in our beloved nation.

“We remind all stakeholders that Nigeria remains a democracy, and it is imperative for the government to uphold democratic principles in all its dealings.

“Attempting to overthrow a democratically elected leadership within NURTW or any trade union for that matter not only contradicts international labor conventions but also undermines the very essence of democracy in Nigeria, which the government is duty-bound to protect.

He called on all the state chapters to begin mobilization across the nation to resist this attempt at taking over their Union.

“Our Union is not a war booty that can be handed over as a trophy to anyone as a compensation for whatever reasons. We urge the IGP to immediately withdraw the police operatives and associated hoodlums from our National Secretariat.

“We strongly implore the Nigeria Police Force to cease interfering in the affairs of our Union and to refrain from further actions that jeopardize the rights and privileges of Nigerian workers and citizens.

“Should these unlawful actions persist, we, as responsible stakeholders in the labor movement, may be compelled to take necessary steps to protect the rights and interests of our members and the Nigerian people as a whole.

“Nigerians must unite to condemn these actions, as they represent a dangerous slide toward despotism and a disregard for democratic values.

“We call on the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to immediately take steps to save our great Union from the clutches of the forces of retrogression that are bent on hijacking it.

“We call on all well-meaning Nigerians to join us in condemning these actions and safeguarding our nation’s democratic values.”

The chairman of the FCT Chapter of the Union Alhaji Ibrahim Sanda Kuje who earlier addressed a press conference alleged that some aggrieved members of the Union from Lagos State led by Alh. Tajudeen Agbede Badru and former President of the Union, Alhaji Najeem Usman Yasin led a group of thugs with the support of Lagos State Chairman of Parks and Management, Alhaji Musiliu Akinsanya (MC Oluomo) attacked the National Secretariat and injured many of our staff in the presence of security operatives deployed to prevent breakdown of law and order.

“It is worrisome to know that the Nigerian Police, Operatives of Department of State Services (DSS) and Nigerian Army were deployed to provide cover for these intruders who operated freely under the watch of armed security agents.

“They attacked and chased away all the National officers including the National President while the police watched them.

“We appeal to our members across the states to remain calm but be on standby.

“We hereby use this medium to call President Ahmed Bola Tinubu to intervene as a matter of urgency and necessity to avoid any breakdown of law and order in the Federal Capital Territory  ( FCT ) .

“The President should also call the Nigerian police and DSS to order and stop giving unnecessary backing to the disgruntled element who are out to cause confusion.

(National Update)