The Labour and Civil Society Front, representing a coalition of organized labour and the Pro People Civil Society Movement, cautioned the Federal Government against intimidating leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC).
In a statement released in Abuja by spokesperson Wale Okunniyi, the coalition expressed concern over the presence of soldiers at the ongoing meeting between the government and labour leaders.
“The motive behind the armed military operatives gathering around and cordoning off defenseless labour leaders at the negotiation meeting is very suspicious, intimidating, and coercive. There is no basis for military involvement in the civil negotiation between labour leaders and Federal Government officials led by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF),” the statement read.
The coalition demanded the immediate withdrawal of armed soldiers from the negotiation venue, describing their presence as an attempt to intimidate, coerce, and possibly harm labour leaders.
“Any continued occupation of the meeting venue by military operatives or any harm to labour leaders at the SGF office will destroy the trust in the Bola Ahmed Tinubu regime, especially considering the lingering memories of the #EndSARS massacre by armed soldiers in Lekki, Lagos under the watch of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu,” the statement added.
Labour leaders are meeting with Federal Government representatives at the SGF office to discuss the way forward after the industrial action that started on Monday.
