The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has accused the Edo State Government of using soldiers to brutalise workers following the arrest and brutalisation of the Chairman of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), Edo State branch, Comrade William Uwumarogie.
In a statement by its Acting General Secretary, Comrade Benson Upah, the union faulted the night raid carried out on October 22 at the BEDC Head Office on Akpakpava Road, Benin City, by a combined team of military personnel and suspected thugs.
According to the Congress, Uwumarogie and other electricity workers were arrested during the raid and beaten, with the NUEE Chairman currently hospitalised due to injuries sustained.
It said while it welcomes the release of the arrested workers, the action of the state government amounts to state-sponsored banditry and a flagrant violation of workers’ rights.
Accusing the Edo State Government of duplicity, the union said the deployment of soldiers against workers engaged in legitimate trade union activities brought shame to Nigeria.
The union demanded an immediate and unreserved apology from the Edo State Government to the brutalised workers and the entire labour movement, and called for those responsible for the raid to be held accountable.
The NLC maintained that it would not tolerate any form of intimidation or harassment of workers and vowed to defend the rights of its members across the country.
