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Labour protests in Delta
Cajetan Mmuta,
Asaba
LABOUR
leaders, barred from marching in Abuja against possible passage of the anti-Labour
bill, had their day in Asaba, Delta State capital yesterday.
Leading workers in their hundreds, labour
activists marched to Government House, Asaba, the state House of Assembly and on
major streets of the capital.
The protest was peaceful, without any ugly
incidents.
Workers are kicking against the Trade
Unions Act (Amendment Bill) currently being debated at the National
Assembly, but which the Labour movement considers as "anti-workers".
Only on Tuesday in Abuja, security
operatives stormed Labour House, base of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), to
stop its President, Adams Oshiomhole from leading out workers into the streets
and then to the National Assembly, in protest.
For its part, leadership of the National
Assembly had earlier written to Inspector-General of Police Mr. Tafa Balogun
asking that police should stop NLC from marching to the National Assembly
complex over the matter.
But, in Asaba yesterday, Labour leaders,
"commanded" by NLC state chairman Mike Okeme, charged the presidency with
"insensitivity and dictatorship in the orchestrated plan to cripple the Labour
movement through the proposed law.
The protesters carried placards with an
assortment of messages.
They first called at the state Assembly at
11.30a.m., in defiance of an earlier order and warmings to them by the state
security operatives including the police, not to embark on the protest march.
They criticised President Olusegun
Obasanjo for "embarking on an agenda to balkanize the labour movement through
the bill.
Labour they said, could not be intimidated
to shirk its duty of standing up for the common Nigerians rights.
The union leaders, however, challenged the
presidency to retrace its steps on the issue and, instead streer towards
addressing the knotty issues and ailments of the country.
"The bill is not the problem facing the
nation" at present, they said.
However, the principal officers of the
state assembly refused to address the protesters who were locked out of the
legislative complex.
The labour executives also lashed out at
the legislator representing Ukwuani Hon. Paul Okpu a retired Air Force Squardron
Leader for allegedly supporting President Obasanjo on the anti-labour bill when
he specifically fielded questions as one of the guests in a state television
programme Wednesday night.
Labour leaders also poured their venom in
unprintable words on the legislators for refusing to "fight for democracy" which
they swore to do, as representatives of the people.
At government House, Asaba acting governor
Chief Benjamin Elue commended Labour for embarking on a peaceful protest.
Chief Elue who is substantive deputy
governor of the state, however, urged them to continue to remain peaceful in
their fight for the welfare of workers across the country rather than resort to
violence.
Meanwhile, there was no opposition from the police and
other security arms as the protesters marched through the major streets of the
Asaba town.
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