Stop ‘Executive Rascality’: Coalition Tells El-Rufai, Backs Labour

Related stories

Peter Obi’s Dangerous Game By AZU ISHIEKWENE

By AZU ISHIEKWENE Peter Obi has the best chance against...

French president sues Candace Owens over claims his wife is a man

French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte, filed...

TotalEnergies Warns of Looming Oil Glut

TotalEnergies (NYSE: TTE) reported on Thursday its weakest adjusted...

French Company Secures Ownership of DStv, GOtv in $3 Billion MultiChoice Deal

By Abiola Olawale  A French media conglomerate, Canal+ has finalized...

A coalition of civil society and labour groups has expressed dismay at the shrinking civic space in the country and cautioned that the alleged hiring of thugs by the Kaduna State government to attack workers at a rally organised by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is further proof that the nation has slid into full blown dictatorship.

The coalition condemned the utterances of the State Governor, Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai on the labour impasse in the state, saying they were insensitive and unbecoming of a state executive. The coalition described the governor’s pronouncement that the NLC President, Ayuba Wabba is wanted for economic sabotage, as “executive rascality gone too far.”

The groups expressed these views at a meeting convened by Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) in Lagos to x-ray the state of the nation and the on-going NLC strike in Kaduna state.

In response to the Kaduna labour crisis, the coalition said:“We are disturbed by the show of shame and recklessness of the Kaduna state governor, and the state government’s response to the just action of workers following the allegation of mass sack  amidst poor work living conditions of the ordinary people under the El-Rufai administration.

“The purported declaration of the National President of NLC wanted is unacceptable, condemnable, and illegal. Governor El-Rufai must be called out and called to order because Nigeria is a nation governed by the rule of law. His emperor-style of leadership and the alleged engaging of thugs is even more condemnable because rather than create meaningful employment for the youths, he is conscripting them into armies to intimidate peaceful protesters.

“What happened in Kaduna is reminiscent of the state-sponsored attacks on peaceful #EndSARS protesters across the federation and particularly in Lagos where men of the Nigerian Army under instruction from powers from above shot at peaceful youths on October 20, 2020. Unfortunately, forceful repression of Nigerians has become a pattern by a ruling elite determined to crush any semblance of opposition in their quest to protect their selfish interest and that of a feudal and capitalist few.”

Lisiting its demands, the coalition said: “We totally align with the struggles of workers of Kaduna State, the NLC and the wider labour movement in their fight for the rights of workers and the downtrodden until victory, and demand as follows:

“Reinstatement of staff unlawfully sacked by the Kaduna state government since El-Rufai’s government and jettisoning of plans to sack more workers.

“Halt on the victimization of workers in the state for simply exercising their constitutional rights or any stigmatization of those that participated in the strike by the State government.

“Conducive environment for workers to thrive and be productive.

“Finally, we would advise  Governor El-Rufail to also focus more energy  on the security issues that have made life a nightmare for ordinary citizens in his state.”

The statement was jointly signed by: Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA); Joint Action Front (JAF); Centre for Children’s Health Education, Orientation and Protection (CEE-Hope); Grassroots Democratic Initiative (GDI); Education Rights Campaign (ERC); Centre for Human and Socio-Economic Rights (CHSR); Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC)

'Dotun Akintomide
'Dotun Akintomide
'Dotun Akintomide's journalism works intersect business, environment, politics and developmental issues. Among a number of local and international publications, his work has appeared in the New York Times. He's a winner of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Award. Currently, the Online Editor at The New Diplomat, Akintomide has produced reports that uniquely spoke to Nigeria's experience on Climate Change issues. When Akintomide is not writing, volunteering or working on a media project, you can find him seeing beautiful sites like the sandy beaches that bedecked the Lagos coastline.

Subscribe

- Never miss a story with notifications

- Gain full access to our premium content

- Browse free from up to 5 devices at once

Latest stories

NDN
Latest News
Akpabio vs Natasha: High-Stakes Drama as Immigration Officers Seize, Release Natasha's Passport at Abuja Airport Peter Obi’s Dangerous Game By AZU ISHIEKWENEFrench president sues Candace Owens over claims his wife is a manTotalEnergies Warns of Looming Oil GlutFrench Company Secures Ownership of DStv, GOtv in $3 Billion MultiChoice Deal2027 Calculations: Tinubu's Minister, Nentawe Yilwatda Takes Over as APC National Chairman, Succeeds Ganduje#EndSARS: Court Orders IGP Egbetokun to Pay N10m for Violating Protesters' RightsFrench Company Secures Ownership of DStv, GOtv in $3 Billion MultiChoice Deal2027: Osun Senators' Defection to APC, a Grave Error, Governor Adeleke’s Aide Blasts Fadahunsi, Fadeyi Mystery Buyer of First Bank Stake Spurs Query From Nigeria’s SECThailand recalls ambassador to Cambodia amid border tensionsFor Aisha Buhari at a time like this By Funke EgbemodeSaraki Blasts Atiku, David Mark, Dino Melaye, Dele Momodu, Other PDP Defectors, Says Mass Exodus Lacks Vision2027: Four Senators Dump PDP as APC Numbers Rise To 70 in Upper Chambers[VIDEO]: Battle Rages As Amaechi Storms Rivers, Pulls Unprecedented Crowd for ADC
X whatsapp