Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) says it would hold a national protest on Monday in Abuja over alleged use of thugs to attack its members during protest at the residence of the minister of labour and employment, Chris Ngige.
NLC members and those of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG) on Wednesday barricaded the gate of the minister in his Abuja residence.
They were protesting his refusal to inaugurate the Frank Kokori-led board of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF).
Shortly afterwards, they were chased and stoned by thugs which they alleged were sent to attack them by the minister.
Despite denial by Ngige of having any knowledge of it, NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, said after an emergency meeting of NLC Central Working Committee (CWC) on Thursday that labour members should embarrass the minister and his family members wherever they are sighted.
“The CWC decided to embark on a national protest on Monday, May 13, in Abuja against the brutalisation of its members during the peaceful protest,” Wabba said.
“As minister of labour, he knows that there is a clear provision of the law on picketing, lockouts and even strike action and therefore for him to have instead of addressing the issues, descended so low to the extent of using thugs to attack workers who were on a peaceful conduct of the protest, is something that is less than desirable and is anti-workers.
“We were certainly taken aback that a minister who is supposed to uphold our labour laws, has decided to descend so low to violate workers’ right and therefore, we feel he is a square peg in a round hole and is not fit to be in the office.”
Ngige has also threatened to file legal suit against NLC for invading his residence.
