The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has condemned the unlawful invasion of the national secretariat of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) by alleged thugs and hoodlums.

On Monday in Abuja, Joe Ajaero, NLC president, stated in a co-signed statement with Emmanuel Ugboaja, NLC general secretary, that men in police uniform accompanied the thugs.

Mr Ajaero revealed this during a resolution reached after an emergency National Administrative Council (NAC) meeting held on Monday in Abuja.

He said the resolution was reached after exhaustive deliberation by the NAC-in-session on the unlawful invasion of the NURTW national secretariat.

“NAC-in-session consequently resolved to demand the immediate vacation of the illegally occupied national secretariat of the NURTW by the police and thugs within 48 hours of this resolution.

“To demand President Bola Tinubu, being a product of democracy, clear his name, which is being peddled by those who have committed this brigandage and unconstitutionality, from further being used to scuttle democracy.

“That if nothing is done within an acceptable time, Nigerian workers under the leadership of the NLC will be forced to call all its affiliates out in support of the legally elected NURTW leadership and its members across the nation,” he said.

The NLC president also noted that the police had a recent history of interfering in the internal affairs of the NURTW and other unions.

He added that the police had usurped arbitration powers in industrial disputes, contrary to the statutes governing the nation’s industrial relations climate.

“The IGP has acquiesced to the invasion of the National Secretariat with a view to dethroning a legally elected leadership and installing a stooge in the Union without lawful order.

“That there is a known democratically elected leadership of the NURTW led by Comrade Tajudeen Baruwa.

“That violence and bloodletting may be imminent in counter-response to this illegal action,” he added.

Mr Ajaero added that a national shutdown is possible given the undemocratic action in a democracy.

He also said there was a need to avert further escalation, which has become exigent.

(NAN)