Labour threatens strike over kidnappings, robberies

Organised labour has threatened workers will be forced to stay at home until government ends the spate of robberies and kidnappings across the country. It has urged all tiers of government to stop endless waste of lives of Nigerian workers and pensioners. Its threat came in a tribute at the wake of the late first […]

Organised labour has threatened workers will be forced to stay at home until government ends the spate of robberies and kidnappings across the country.

It has urged all tiers of government to stop endless waste of lives of Nigerian workers and pensioners.

Its threat came in a tribute at the wake of the late first deputy president of National Union of Textile and Garment Workers, David Ugondo, in Kaduna on Tuesday.

Ugondo, 67, was gunned down together with three others including a serving  army officer  by suspected armed robbers during an attack along Kaduna-Birnin Gwari Road in Kaduna.

The union’s General Secretary, Issa Aremu, regretted that Nigerians were more secure at independence in 1960 than today.

He said, “Incidents of Armed robbery and kidnapping, armed attacks at home and along major highways are killing Nigerians more than HIV/AIDS.”

Aremu said it was a paradox that with a serving   President, Vice President, the ministers and governors, local governments chairmen, including community chiefs as well as security agencies,  Nigeria lacked governance with respect to security of lives and properties as contained in 1999 constitution.

“Without an official declaration of war, Nigerians daily die in the  hands of armed robbers and criminals. Road accidents and incidents have turned homes and work places to sudden mourners,” he said.

He lamented that working  men and women, including retirees such as Ugondo have all become victims of Violent Crimes in Nigeria.

Aremu who is also an executive of the Nigeria Labour Congress said stemming the tide required that there should be “consequences for those elected and appointed to protect Nigerians in any security system failures. Governors who cannot protect  lives and properties should be impeached because all  governors took oath to implement 1999 constitution which says primary purpose of governance is security and welfare of citizens”.

In similar vein, the labour leader said “Commissioners of police under whose commands robberies occur frequently should be  removed and  prosecuted for negligence” decrying a situation in which  security service agents  paid to secure Nigerians looked the other ways while Nigerians were  being slaughtered.

“Transporters must also as a matter of right be responsible for the safety of passengers through full disclosures of routes. They should not lead passengers by the nose to death traps. If  they do they should be prosecuted," he said.