NLC defies El’Rufai, Police threats, storms Govt House over sack of 36,000 workers

Not minding threats by the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, and the state’s Police Command, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), on Thursday staged a mass protest to Kaduna Government House, decrying the alleged sack of 36,000 workers by the governor.

Both Governor El-Rufai and the state Police Command had at separate news conference on Wednesday warned the NLC against its planned protest in the state. While the governor had threatened disciplinary action against any state worker that participated in the protest, the police had claimed that such protest was against the law of the state.

However, despite these threats and amidst heavy deployment of security operatives, NLC president, Ayuba Wabba, as planned, led thousands of state workers to the government house.

Wabba who said Governor El-Rufai “deploying security agencies with arms to armless workers is condemnable even globally,” added that NLC in pursuit of its legitimate rights cannot be intimidated by anybody.

He regretted that Governor El-Rufai has sacked 36,000 workers in the state, a development he said was cruel and has nothing to do with competency.

He said, “The sack of 36,000 workers has nothing to do with competency. Kaduna State government didn’t conduct competency test for local government workers yet they were sacked. We are here to defend the right of 36,000 workers and their families that have been disengaged from the state civil service.

“The last time we were here we talked of only 21,000 teachers, but today, as we speak, over 4,000 local government workers have been issued sack letters, and over 8,000 from ministries, department and agencies including tertiary institutions have been sacked.

READ ALSO: PROTESTS OVER SACKED TEACHERS: NLC draws battle line with Gov El’Rufai, Police

“This is cruelty, as this is not what we bargained for and we can’t keep quiet in a decent society where this is happening. We have now tested the waters and the struggle will be carried out to every state.

“In Kaduna state no worker is safe, no family is safe and it is better they are defeated struggling than to be defeated in their comfort zone. Injury to one is an injury to all and I am happy that our unions are here in full force to support us. This solidarity must continue because today is for Kaduna workers and tomorrow can be workers in other states.”

 

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