*DSS: ‘We Did Not Carry Out Any Operation At NLC Office’
THE Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has condemned the invasion of the Abuja national secretariat of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) by security operatives late on Wednesday, August 7, during which they carted away documents and files after forcefully entering some offices at the Labour House, demanding a thorough investigation into the incident.
TUC, in a statement by its President, Mr. Festus Osifo, said: “The TUC condemns the Wednesday night’s invasion of the Labour House, headquarters of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Abuja, by security operatives.
“The reported confiscation of books from the NLC library, allegedly in search of #EndBadGovernance materials, is a troubling act that raises serious concerns about the violation of fundamental rights, including freedom of speech and expression.
“This action represents an overreach by security forces and poses a threat to the democratic principles that allow for peaceful dissent and free expression.
“We consider this invasion a direct attack on the rights of Nigerian citizens to freely express their views and to access information.
“The TUC calls on the Federal Government to immediately launch a thorough investigation into this incident. Those responsible for authorising and executing this operation must be held accountable.
“We demand the prompt return of all seized materials to the NLC library and an explanation for this unjustified action.
“Nigerians must be reassured that their rights are protected and that security agencies operate within the confines of the law, respecting the freedoms guaranteed under our constitution.”
Similarly, the Amnesty International (AI) Nigeria, in a statement by its Director, Mr. Isa Sanusi, said the invasion undermines workers’ rights to organise, bargain collectively and take industrial action.
AI strongly condemned the brazen invasion, saying it “appears to be part of a sinister and calculated attack designed to intimidate the labour union.
“During the lawless raid, the armed security personnel ransacked books at the bookshop, carrying all the materials into their van, claiming that the materials were used to incite and organise the recent protest.
“We are deeply concerned about the safety of NLC officials. Under international human rights law and standards, trade unions cannot be targeted for their participating activities.
“Under international human rights law, Nigeria has an obligation not only to respect the rights of trade unions, but also to protect these rights from abuse,” it stated.
On his part, former vice president and presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in last year’s general elections, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, said whoever ordered the invasion should be held accountable.
Speaking through his media aide, Mr. Paul Ibe, Atiku stressed that such clandestine raids on civil liberties had no place in a democracy, adding: “The invasion of the national secretariat of the NLC by persons believed to be security operatives, whether singly or as a combined team, stands condemned.
“The practice of such raids without a valid court order and in the wee hours of the day reflects the current administration’s desire to hold on to the vestiges of military dictatorship, which the NLC, civil society and the media, fought so hard to end and birth the democratic rule we enjoy today.
“Events of the last couple of weeks have shown this administration’s growing obsession with militarisation of our polity.
“They are trying to suppress civil liberties and silence the media. Just the other day, they had protesters shot at and some killed for daring to protest the hardships this administration’s policies have unleashed on the people.
“This administration must be told in clear terms that democracy has come to stay in Nigeria and those who do not share the same views with government must be allowed to air their views.”
In his reaction, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr. Peter Obi, described the raid as condemnable.
Obi, through his media aide, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, said raiding the office of the labour union, especially at an unholy hour, was not the best thing to do, adding: “The NLC as an organisation fights for the rights of the majority of Nigerian workers and their officials are accessible.
“If any of our security agencies desire to see them, the proper thing to do is to invite them, and I know they are law-abiding and will honour such invitations.
“Invading their offices, especially after office hours, is an attempt to intimidate them. This has no place in a democracy.”
The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), while condemning the action on its X handle, called on the Federal Government to immediately return all property carted away by the invading security operatives.
“We call on the Nigerian government to immediately recall its security forces from the premises of the NLC, return all property taken from the premises, and conduct an investigation.”
It also called on the Federal Government to respect labour and trade union rights as human rights, build trust with the labour movement in Nigeria, listen to their demands for meaningful and effective dialogue and stop attacking them.”
Constitutional lawyer and rights activist, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), said: “The invasion will depend on what sensitive information the DSS had regarding existential national security matters.
“If the invasion was carried out merely as part of scare-mongering device, artifice and tactics to repress popular dissent and permissible civil and peaceful protests, then it was utterly wrong.
“But if it was done to protect public safety, public good and the rights of others to enjoy their fundamental rights, then it could be excused.
“However, the onus lies on the DSS to show that it acted within the confines of the law and that there was, indeed, an urgent clear and present danger it hoped to avert or unravel through the invasion, necessitating it not obtaining a prior order of court to search the Labour House premises.”
Another lawyer and right activist, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), insisted the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, must fish out the invaders, adding: “The invasion was apparently designed to silence the leaders of the NLC for having the temerity to criticise the harassment of the #EndBadGovernance protesters by the Police and other security agencies.
“The invasion is a shameful reminder of the armed invasion of the NLC Secretariat on February 28, 1988, following the loss of the post of the president of the Congress at the Triennial Delegates Conference of the Congress by the stooge of Ibrahim Babangida’s military junta.
“As if the invasion was not enough, the reactionary forces in power at the material time proceeded to seize the secretariat and impose a sole administrator to manage the affairs of the Congress for over a year.
“Two years earlier, security operatives had detained NLC leaders, including its president, Comrade Ali Chiroma, who died a few months ago. The Gestapo tactic on that tragic occasion was to forestall a nationwide protest in response to police killings of Ahmadu Bello University students.
“For genuine democrats, it’s utterly regrettable that official actions in a democratic dispensation could be reminiscent of the atrocities that defined the dark days of military dictatorship.
“It is incontestable that it is illegal for security forces to invade the homes and offices of law-abiding citizens and corporate bodies under a democratic dispensation, hence, the DSS has denied its involvement in the invasion. However, the official denial of the DSS, in the repressive activity is not sufficient.
“We are, therefore, compelled to call on the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to order an inquiry into the identities of the perpetrators of the illegal invasion. This should not be a case of unknown invaders!”
Yet another lawyer and activist, Mr. Inibehe Effiong, said: “It seems this government has no regard for the democratic space. It is a further escalation of attacks on the human rights of Nigerians. It shows that the current administration has no regard for the labour union.
“The fact that the government would be so comfortable to invade the NLC secretariat in that manner should worry all of us. It shows that the city is not safe. That has to stop. But it is completely condemnable. The continuous Nigerian descent into a police state is now being pursued at a very scary pace.
“We cannot continue to condone this kind of behaviour. I don’t understand why that had to happen.It is completely unnecessary and such actions must stop.
“It is also an opportunity for introspection by the labour leaders. They may have to review their relationship with the government.”
One of the protest organisers, Mr. Deji Adeyanju, described the raid as a total disregard for democracy, noting: “One would have thought that a Tinubu that was protesting against the military that he would even understand the concept of democracy, is now one of the greatest threats to Nigerian democracy by going after freedom of assembly, freedom of speech, freedom of association, and even raiding the NLC headquarters.
“It is unthinkable that a man who ran away on exile out of fear for his life is now picking up protesters from their homes, mount security agents, which they constitute a special task force, comprising DSS, Nigerian Police Force (NPF), Nigerian Army (NA) and Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), picking up protesters in their homes on the order of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“Unfortunately, we have degenerated to this level under the Tinubu-led administration that did not have regard to democracy, freedom of assembly, speech, association, assembly, in fact, Tinubu should hide his face in shame.”
But the Department of States Service (DSS), one of the security agencies being fingered in the invasion, has since denied reports that its officers took part in the operation.
While reacting to the reports, spokesman of the Service, Dr. Peter Afunanya, on Thursday, August 8, said DSS personnel were not responsible for the ransacking of the labour union’s office, insisting: “Good morning dear friends. Pls kindly note that the Service (DSS) did not carry out any operation at the NLC office in Abuja.”
