Ajaero
By Amah
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The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has threatened to declare a strike action and join the ongoing hunger protests unless the police stop killing protesters.
In a statement by its president, titled: “STOP THIS MASSACRE” the labour union expressed worries over the high number of people killed by the police during the ongoing nationwide hunger protests.
The statement read: “With unconfirmed reports putting casualties at over 40 in two days of managing the #EndHunger protests across the country, we have sufficient reasons (backed up by reports and video clips) to question the professionalism of our security personnel as this represents nothing but MASSACRE of citizens,”titled “STOP THIS MASSACRE”,
The president of the Congress threatened that Organised Labour might be forced to declare an industrial action to protest innocent citizens if the wanton destruction of human lives by the police continues.
“Had the security personnel deployed the same thoughtless brutal precision against bandits or other criminals, our country would have been an eldorado,” the statement continued.
“As the lead agency in internal security management, the Police bear the burden of this massacre.
“We would be monitoring closely as the situation unfolds. The police as the lead-agency vested with power and authority on issues of internal security should not only lead by (a good) example but an inspiration to other services.
“However, if the police in self-righteousness consider this advice as meddlesomeness and persist in their slaughter, they will be unwittingly creating a situation they were supposed to help avert in the first place.
“And we as members of organised labour will be left with no choice than the moral burden to act in protection of ordinary citizens.
“We do believe the ultimate solution lies with the government, the decisions it takes, the compromises it is willing to make in the face of the genuine demands by the protesters.
“As stated in our statements of July 22nd and 23rd, the clearest path to a lasting solution is for the government to sit down with the protest leaders and negotiate in good faith.
“Time is of the essence as no one is impressed by the sophistry of government officials/hirelings or threats by the police or the military. We are all Nigerians, after all.”
