LAGOS — HUNDREDS of anti-riot policemen yesterday sealed off the Lagos State secretariat of the Nigerian Civil Service Union (NCSU), venue of the Labour/civil society organisations rally against the controversial Labour Bill, seeking to scrap the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and weaken the labour movement in Nigeria.
The anti-riot policemen arrived the Alausa office of the NCSU as early as 6.35a.m. with a padlock and chain with which they locked the gates after sending away the security man there, while a 504 car belonging to Operation Fire for Fire with number place NPF509Gb was used to block the gate.
All the roads leading to the secretariat situated at Number 3, Alhaja Ashabi-Cole Road were cordoned off and blocked with police pick-up vans and manned by fully armed and stern looking anti-riot policemen.
By 8 a.m. when members of the Lagos State Council of the NLC and civil society organisations started arriving at the venue of the rally, seven pick-up vans belonging to Operation Fire for Fire and Rapid Response Squad and several unmarked cars had brought more men to re-inforce the men already on ground.
The workers, members of the civil society groups and other Nigerians who came en-mass for the rally were turned back, but instead of leaving, went to the adjoining streets where they sang solidarity and anti-Obasanjo songs.
An angry Mr. Segun Sango, state Chairman of the National Conscience Party (NCP), noted that neither the police nor anyone had the authority to lock up another person’s property or house without a court permit and asked labour to take up the case legally. He said: “No law empowers anybody, not even the police to seal off or lock up another person’s property or office without the court permission.
It is illegal and unconstitutional. This issue goes beyond labour. Labour should take this matter seriously. Labour should go to the court and challenge this flagrant abuse of its right. It deals with the right of the people to freedom of expression, assembly and even to own a property. It is the right of people that is being trampled upon. I have never seen this happen in a civilised society. What is this country turning to? No, no, it goes beyond labour issue. What is at stake is the right of people to free expression. It is against all known norms of decent behaviour and civilisation.”
Meanwhile, as more workers and members of the civil society groups arrived for the rally, displaying placards, there were arguments among the senior police officers on whether the situation would not be better managed with the workers and civil society members in a closed place rather than the streets where they were grouped.
Some of the placards read: “Crush poverty not NLC”, “We need employment bill, not labour bill”, “NLC, the voice of the people, do not destroy it”, “Labour bill a threat to democracy”, “ Foster national unity, do not destroy it. NLC is a symbol of our national unity.”
Vanguard gathered that the Commander of the Rapid Response Squad , Mr. Tunde Sobulo, was informed about the situation and a few minutes later he arrived to access the situation. After discussing with the leadership of the Lagos State Council of the NLC for over 30 minutes, it was agreed that five leaders of the workers would be allowed to take their petition to the state Assembly. After holding the rally in the NCSU secretariat, he opened the gate and directed that the police car that was used to block the gate be driven out at 10.45a.m.
