NLC, ASUU to picket Nigerian Police Force Hqters
*Force has been harassing union members nationwide-ASUU
*We will carry our protests even up to ILO-NLC
The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, have jointly decried police brutality against their members and have declared their plan to picket the Headquarters office of the Nigeria Police Force, Maitama Abuja, over what they called’’ incessant harassment of union members and wanton police brutality’’
The Presidents of the two unions, namely Comrade Ayuba Waba and Professor Biodun Ogunyemi told newsmen in Abuja yesterday, during a routine visit by the NLC boss, designed to interface with the affiliates of the congress, that serial attacks by police personnel on their members even at the flimsiest of excuses will no longer be tolerated and will henceforth be resisted
The ASUU boss who also accused the police of colluding with the authorities of University of Illorin to establish a regime of suppression and willful subjugation to forcefully deduct check off dues from members ,said the union will not give up in the struggle to instill justice and fair play in that university
Biodun further cited instances of Police violence against members in Ekpoma where a Professor was brutally assaulted, the crises in FUTA Akure were the Nigerian Police Force where seen to have taken sides ,and the ongoing UniOsun crises where the Nigerian Police indiscriminately arrested members and branding them cultists and sponsors of cultism even after they had properly identified themselves
Comrade Waba who described ASUU as a consistent partner in the struggle for justice and fair play promised to continue partnership with the union to address the challenges facing the education sector
He said’’ we believe so much in solidarity because injury to one is injury to all, we shall join you by carrying out protests to police headquarters, to drive home the demand for police reform and social justice
