The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has raised serious concerns regarding the perceived favoritism exhibited by the police in the ongoing leadership crisis within the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).
Acting President Kabiru Minjibir, speaking on behalf of the NLC, voiced strong allegations that democratically elected leaders of the NURTW were being subjected to detainment, while individuals from other factions were quietly released without facing similar consequences.
This outcry from the NLC stems from the recent outbreak of violence at the national secretariat of the NURTW. The NLC expressed profound sadness at the incident, but what has deeply troubled the organization is the apparent partiality displayed by the authorities in their efforts to restore peace.
The NLC conducted its own investigations, which revealed a disturbing trend: democratically elected union leaders remained in detention, while those affiliated with opposing factions enjoyed liberty.
In a statement issued, the NLC emphasized the importance of equal treatment and fairness in resolving conflicts of this nature. The organization called upon the police authorities to promptly release the democratically elected union leaders from detention and to ensure a thorough and impartial investigation into the violence. The NLC stressed the critical need to uphold justice and the rule of law, particularly during such a precarious moment.
The NLC underscored that the state and the police must be held accountable for their actions, or inaction, and their unwarranted interference in the internal affairs of the union.
The NLC asserted that established statutory avenues for conflict resolution exist, and they should have been adhered to. However, it appeared that authorities were disinclined to follow these established procedures, leading to the current turmoil.
Meanwhile, the Federal Capital Territory police command has firmly denied allegations of bias in its handling of the situation, specifically in the arrest of those involved in the clashes within the NURTW in Abuja.
The spokesperson for the FCT Police Command, SP Josephine Adeh, clarified that arrests were made based on criminal charges related to the incident, including criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide, and public disturbance. The arrests, according to the police, were not influenced by any form of favoritism or bias, but rather, they were conducted to restore law and order following the breakdown of peace during the NURTW dispute.
