ICFTU Condemns Brutal Police Actions Against NLC

ICFTU Condemns Brutal Police Actions Against NLC

The International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) has strongly condemned a police siege of the headquarters of the ICFTU-affiliated Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Abuja which took place on June 10, resulting in the death of two trade unionists.

The two killings and the arrest of several other trade unionists in the main cities, as well as a siege of the house of the NLC President came as the nationwide strike and mass protests against fuel price increases in Nigeria entered their second day. In a letter to Nigerian President Obasanjo, ICFTU General Secretary Guy Ryder expressed "the greatest concern that these acts are taking place in spite of the fact that the Federal Government has issued statements announcing the Government's decision to revert to the pre-tax price levels for petroleum products."

According to insiders close to the NLC, an arrest warrant has been issued for Adams Oshiomole, the President of the Nigerian Labour Congress. The ICFTU has appealed to the Nigerian government to enter into fresh dialogue with the NLC and to set up an independent enquiry on the circumstances that led police to shoot the two trade unionists.

According to the NLC, the two men killed were members of the Commercial Motorcyclists Association, who were among those who had earlier accompanied labour leaders to monitor fuel stations to ascertain compliance with the new prices of fuel announced by the federal government following a court order.

Link to ICFTU letter:

http://www.icftu.org/displaydocument.asp?Index=991220023

The ICFTU represents 152 million workers in 231 affiliated organisations in 150 countries and territories. ICFTU is also a member of Global Unions: http://www.global-unions.org

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