The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has strongly criticized the recent actions taken by security forces who stormed the Labour House, which is the headquarters of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) located in Abuja.
This incident, which happened on Thursday evening, involved officials entering the NLC’s offices and taking books from their library. The security personnel claimed they were searching for materials related to the “End Bad Governance” campaign, which has sparked concern and outrage.
On Friday, the TUC, through a statement signed by its President, Festus Osifo, expressed deep dissatisfaction with the raid. They viewed it as a serious violation of fundamental human rights, particularly the right to freedom of speech and expression. Osifo argued that the raid was not just an overreach by the security forces but also a dangerous threat to democracy, as it undermines the right to peaceful protest and access to information.
The TUC President called on the Federal Government to act swiftly by launching a full investigation into the raid. He emphasized that those who ordered and carried out the operation should be held accountable. Osifo also demanded that all the materials seized during the raid be returned to the NLC’s library immediately and that a clear explanation be provided for the raid.
He stressed the importance of ensuring that Nigerians can trust that their rights are safeguarded and that security agencies are functioning within the boundaries set by the law. “We see this raid as a direct attack on the rights of Nigerian citizens to express their opinions freely and to have access to information,” Osifo asserted.
This event has raised serious concerns about the state of democracy and civil rights in Nigeria, with the TUC and NLC standing firm in their demand for justice and accountability. The incident has become a symbol of the broader struggle to protect fundamental freedoms in the country.
