ANGRY reactions yesterday trailed the invasion of the headquarters of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, by some security agents late Wednesday night.

Although operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS, were said to have carried out the attack, the secret police were, however, quick to deny its involvement yesterday.

Recall that agents of the state raided the NLC offices at about 10 pm, which is what sources described as being connected with the recent nationwide protests against hardship in the country.

DSS denies involvement

“Good morning dear friends. Please, kindly note that the Service (DSS) did not carry out any operation at the NLC office in Abuja,” a spokesperson of the DSS, Dr Peter Afunanya, said in a terse statement.

Among those who reacted included former Vice President, Abubakar Atiku, his counterpart in the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, Amnesty International, International Trade Union Confederation, ITUC, lawyers and civil society organisations, CSOs.

In its immediate response to the raid, the NLC sought an international inquiry into the invasion, describing the development as dangerous to the nation’s democracy.

Efforts to get the reaction of both the Presidency and the information minister proved abortive last night.

We’re still shocked by the invasion — NLC

Reacting to the raid yesterday, NLC’s Head of Media and Public Relations, Benson Upah, said the labour movement had already directed all employees to stay away from office.

He said: “We are still shocked by the invasion. First, all staff of the Congress stayed away from the office as directed by the leadership. We cannot yet fathom the reason or reasons for the invasion.

‘’Since last night, we have been receiving calls from across the globe, including our affiliates to express their disbelief and outrage over the invasion. They said not even under military dictatorship did such a thing happen.

“We understand that the Department of State Services, DSS, has denied involvement. Who did it, alongside the uniformed policemen that invaded and ransacked the Labour House? We are in dangerous times in Nigeria. From what is happening, everybody is threatened. This is all I can say for now.”

Atiku condemns invasion

In his reaction, former vice president and presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the 2023 general elections, Atiku Abubakar, while condemning the invasion, said whoever ordered the invasion by men believed to be a combined team of security officials should be held accountable.

Atiku, who spoke through his Media Adviser, Mr. Paul Ibe, said such clandestine raids on civil liberties had no place in a democracy.

He said: “The invasion of the national secretariat of the Nigeria Labour Congress, 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 militarization 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.”

Invasion of NLC secretariat condemnable — Obi

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, in his reaction, described the raid as condemnable.

Speaking through his Media Aide, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, Obi noted that raiding the office of the labour union, especially at an unholy hour, was not the best thing to do.

He said: “The NLC as an organization, 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; they will honour such invitations.

“Invading their offices, especially after office hours, is an attempt to intimidate them. This has no place in a democracy.”

ITUC demands investigation

In its reaction, the International Trade Union Confederation, ITUC, in its X handle, called on the Federal Government to immediately return all property carted away by the invading security operatives.

ITUC, which plans to issue a full statement today (August 9), said: “ITUC strongly condemns the attack on NLC Headquarters by security forces.

“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.’’

ITUC also called on the Federal Government to respect labour and trade union rights as #HumanRights, build trust with the labour movement in Nigeria, listen to their demands for meaningful and effective dialogue, and stop attacking them!”

TUC fumes, demands investigation

Also reacting, the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, condemned the invasion and demanded a thorough investigation into the incident.

TUC in a statement by its President, 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 ‘End Bad Governance’ 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 authorizing 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.”

Amnesty International condemns the raid

On its part, the Country Director of Amnesty International, Isa Sanusi, described the raid as a “sinister and calculated attack” designed to intimidate the labour union.

Sanusi said: “Amnesty International strongly condemns the brazen invasion of the headquarters of Nigeria Labour Congress by a contingent of armed security personnel.

“The chilling raid last night (Wednesday) appears to be part of a sinister and calculated attack designed to intimidate the labour union.

“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.”

Amnesty International emphasised that Nigeria had an obligation to respect and protect the rights of trade unions under international human rights law.

“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,” the group added.

Mike Ozekhome, SAN

Also reacting yesterday, human rights activist, Mike Ozekhome, said: “The invasion will depend on what sensitive information the Secret Service 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.”

IGP must fish out invaders — Falana

On his part, human rights activist, Femi Falana, SAN, said: “Yesterday (Wednesday), the secretariat of the Nigeria Labour Congress at Abuja in the Federal Capital Territory was invaded and occupied by armed security forces.

“The invasion was apparently designed to silence the leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress for having the temerity to criticize 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 State Security Service has denied its involvement in the invasion.

“However, the official denial of the State Security Service in the repressive activity is not sufficient. We are, therefore, compelled to call on the Inspector-General of Police to order an inquiry into the identities of the perpetrators of the illegal invasion. This should not be a case of unknown invaders!”

Raid shows govt has no regards for democratic space — Inibehe Effiong

Similarly, Inibehe Effiong, human rights activist/lawyer 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.”

Raid, sign of Tinubu’s disregard for democracy — Adeyanju

Also reacting, one of the organisers of the recent protest against hardship in the country, Mr Deji Adeyanju, described the raid as a total disregard for democracy.

He said: “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 Nigerian Labour Congress, 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 Department of State Security Service, DSS, Nigerian Police Force, NPF, Nigerian Army, 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, freedom of speech, freedom of association, freedom of assembly, freedom of speech, freedom of association, in fact, Tinubu should hide his face in shame.”

Raiding, seizing books, publications shameful — HOMEF

Equally reacting, the Executive Director, Health of Mother Earth Foundation, HOMEF, Arc Nnimmo Bassey, described the act of raiding and seizure of books and publications at NLC headquarters disturbing and shameful.

Bassey said: “The invasion of the NLC headquarters by security agencies without a court order is a shocking development. The seizure of books and publications is both disturbing and shameful.

“If the action was actually related to the #EndBadGovernance protest, then it is a big insult not only to workers across the nation, but also to every hungry and angry citizen.

“The government should ‘go to court’ if they suspect the NLC of indoctrinating the poor Nigerians who went on the streets to tell the world they were hungry.

“Why seize books? Is the government afraid of books and ideas? Are the security agents now constituting themselves into a thought police?

“Unless they have credible information implicating the NLC in acts of illegality, the security agencies should understand that acts of this nature are embarrassing to the people and the government.

“The security agencies should apologize to the NLC, return the books that were seized and be careful not to further stoke the fires of anger and frustration through such abrasive actions.”

Govt’s action wrong, aggravating polity — Global Rights

The Executive Director, Global Rights, Abiodun Baiyewu, also said the action of the government was uncalled for.

She said: “The government clearly has made a very wrong move and is only aggravating the polity. They are only piling on their list of atrocities. If they are not careful, it will blow up in their faces.”

Similarly, Dr. Zikirullahi Ibrahim, Executive Director of the Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education, CHRICED, warned that the country was almost returning to a full-blown dictatorship, with the government using iron-fist tactics to suppress dissenting voices.

He criticized the government’s hypocrisy in calling for dialogue while clamping down on dissenting voices.

Zikirullahi said: “We are almost returning to a full-blown dictatorship. The invasion of the NLC national office is reminiscent of our experiences during the dark days of military dictatorship in our nation’s history.

“It’s unfortunate that the President is not even pretending to have learned much from the military days. He wants to use an iron fist to treat issues that could have been better resolved through dialogue.

“On the one hand, he is calling for dialogue with Nigerians, while on the other hand, he is authorizing the security agencies to hunt down and clamp down on Nigerians who are expressing their grievances over some of his policies.” (Vanguard)

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