Labour condemns arrest of NUBIFIE President

‎The United Labour Congress of Nigeria (ULC) has condemned the arrest of the President of the National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees (NUBIFIE) Comrade Danjuma Musa by the Nigeria Police at the express order of the Inspector General of Police – Idris Abubakar.

ULC and NUBIFIE, in a joint statement by Comrade Didi Adodo and Comrade Sheick Mohammed, General Secretary (ULC) and General Secretary (NUBIFIE) respectively, said, ‎”this is unfortunately over intra-union dispute which has been adjudicated and settled by the relevant courts but which the losing party who is not a member of the union has decided to resurrect via the instrument of trumped up charge of threat to life and stealing”.

ULC and NUBIFIE, while condemning perceived continued harassment, intimidation and subsequent arrest of comrade Musa by the Nigeria Police, also claimed that the NUBIFIE President, who was allegedly arrested last week Thursday in Lagos, was flown to Abuja on Friday, 12th May 2017, and detained at the SARS headquarters.

“Members of the Nigeria Police under the directive of the Inspector General of Police in a Gestapo style pounced on Comrade Danjuma while he was walking back to his place of work, manhandled and bundled him in a kidnap fashion to Area ‘F’ Ikeja, Lagos from where he was taken to Abuja today 12th May, 2017 on the orders of the Inspector General of Police.”

“We are worried that the Inspector General of Police will allow his good office to be used to play the primordial game and meddle in Labour disputes at the instigation of Comrade Ayuba Wabba of the Nigeria Labour Congress as a decoy to put undue pressure on the Comrade President of NUBIFIE to denounce his allegiance to the ULC; thus fulfilling his earlier vow and boast of fighting the Comrade President to submission.”

“The United Labour Congress feels that is a clear abuse of office and the powers of the Inspector General of Police. It demeans that institution and casts serious odium upon its re-awakening edifices.

“ULC had thought that the IG of Police should have focused his energy more on fighting the growing incidences of crime under his watch, mobilizing his men and material to protect our Communities and Society rather than interfering in trade Union disputes which our laws have established institutions to tackle.

“We wonder what would happen to ordinary and defenseless Nigerians if the President of a Union could be treated this way. This clearly shows that despite all the efforts of the President to bring sanity to bear in the conduct of our Nation’s Affairs, some individuals are still bent on going the old ways.

“We condemned the use of the Police as an instrument of perversion of justice and truncation of our time honoured and hallowed Industrial Relations sphere. The purchase and procurement through pecuniary or non-pecuniary means of the services of the Police especially that of the office of the IGP raises an ugly specter about the willingness of the Police to conform to the Spirit of the times which demands, CHANGE. It questions and truly does raise doubt in the minds of Nigerian Workers on the commitment of the Police to ensuring that Justice remains untainted and impartial under the watch of the present IGP.

“The Inspector General of Police must immediately without delay release Comrade Danjuma Musa from his present captivity and wash his hands-off a matter which its nature is clearly of Intra-Union conflicts.

“The Inspector General of Police must restrain himself and his operatives from being used by individuals and groups to settle personal scores on whatever guise ensuring that the Police Force remains transparent thus builds the needed trust and confidence amongst the diverse national stakeholders.”

“We must not lend the police or any of our institutions to any buyers for the purpose of settling primordial sentiments which is what is happening before our very eyes in this matter. The United Labour Congress of Nigeria (ULC) and its affiliates cannot be cowed into an unhealthy marriage with Ayuba’s NLC which is what the IGP has unfortunately allowed his office to be used to pursue.”

“It is important that those who have connived to prop up these spurious allegations be brought to book to account for their crime that is, if the Police are interested in clearing its name that has been besmirched.”

ULC warned that it will not fold its arms and watch its members, officers and affiliates humiliated, harassed and intimidated into submission by anybody. “We urge caution on the part of the Inspector General of Police and those feeding him with false information to avoid acts that would cause serious Industrial unrest in the Country and threaten our democracy”.

“Our Nation needs all of our institutions to rise above primordial considerations at this time and the police occupying such a key position must lead. The Inspector General of Police must show leadership quickly to correct this aberration and save the Police this opprobrium”. the statement reads.