The disagreement between Organised Labour and the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, over the replacement of Chief Frank Ovie Kokori as the Chairman of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, NSITF, yesterday degenerated into violence as suspected thugs attacked and injured labour leaders, and others at the private residence of the Minister of Labour.

Nine of the protesters are currently receiving treatment at the Trauma section of the National Hospital, Abuja.

The injured unionists have also given statements to the police after the FCT Commissioner of Police and Director of Department of State Security DSS, visited them at the hospital, while some police officers mounted security at the time of this report.

A woman who was a victim of the alleged thugs’ attack refused to either identify herself or speak to journalists.

She, however, said that her husband would make an official statement on that.

The picketing of the minister’s private residence by the labour was said to have started about 5 am with two petroleum tankers used to block the entrance and exit points of the house.

According to the source, all efforts to get the labour leaders to remove the trucks proved abortive as they insisted on the picketing.

Security sources had informed that the picketing took the Minister unaware and he left the house through a different means with only one car.

It was gathered that more activists joined the picketing at 7.30, but security personnel from the Police, DSS, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, prevented them from gaining access to the minister’s residence.

Trouble was said to have started an hour later after some people suspected to be thugs stormed the Minister’s residence in a white Toyota Hiace bus, dressed in black attire with an inscription on some of their shirts “Police Swat”.

Some of the others later came from another side of the street and joined them armed with stones, sticks, bottles and another weapon with which they descended on the picketers.

At this point, the Police, DSS and NSCDC personnel watched helplessly while the thugs beat up the picketers.

The suspected thugs damaged vehicles belonging to NLC, in the melee.

Recall that NLC had given the Minister of Labour ultimatum to inaugurate the NSITF board with the veteran unionist, Chief Kokori as chairman before Workers Day, May 1.

Labour had rejected the replacement of the name of Chief Kokori with his kinsman Austin Isere and accused the Minister of orchestrating the crisis for selfish interest. (Vanguard)

•NLC President Ayuba Wabah (in white) leading the NLC members to the house of Minister of Labour Dr Chris Ngige during the protest over the non-inauguration of Board of NISTF in Abuja yesterday. Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan

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