The Inspector General of Police (IG), Kayode Egbetokun, and his operatives have recently engaged in some actions that have been strongly condemned by the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

The invasion of the NURTW’s national secretariat sparked intense concern from the organisation, which referred to it as a danger to Nigeria’s democracy and labour peace.

Acting on the instructions of the IG, a sizable group of police officers stormed the NURTW national headquarters in Abuja yesterday, bringing with them thugs and hoodlums.

The purpose of the invasion, according to NURTW, “was to undermine the democratically elected leadership of the Union led by Baruwa, and replace it with a puppet leadership from Lagos State.”

The NURTW emphasised that the government’s interference in the affairs of a Trade Union violates democratic principles and legal processes, thereby setting a worrying precedent.

“This move did not only contradict the constitutionally established methods for addressing industrial disputes but also portrays the Nigeria Police Force as undermining the very laws it is meant to uphold,” it said.

The Union demanded that the government uphold democratic principles and questioned the IG’s right to interfere in union business.

The NURTW demanded that police officers and other related individuals immediately leave their national secretariat, claiming that the Union is not a bargaining chip that should be given up in exchange for compensation.

The union demanded that the Nigeria Police Force stop meddling in union business and desist from taking any actions that might endanger the rights of Nigerian citizens and workers.

It emphasised that Nigeria remains a democratic country, and it is incumbent on the government to uphold democratic values in all its actions. “Intimidation, harassment, and invasions of trade union secretariats are not the path to achieving stated objectives,” it said.

The NURTW urged all well-intentioned Nigerians to band together in denouncing such actions and defending the nation’s democratic values.

Ultimately, the Union issued a warning that the ultimate target might be the entire labour movement and urged all parties to band together in support of democratic values.