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Nigerian labour body protests at Zimbabwe Embassy in Abuja
02 Feb 2019 at 06:30hrs | Views
THE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Friday picketed the Zimbabwean Embassy in Abuja, demanding the immediate and unconditional release of leaders of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade unions arrested while protesting the increase in the prices of fuel a fortnight ago..
President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Ayuba Wabba who led the workers said if the Zimbabwean government refuse to release the Union leaders, workers across the world will be mobilised to shut down the Zimbabwean embassies across the world.
Wabba who is also the president of the International Trade Union (ITUC ) asked the United Nations to invoke relevant international conventions to protect the right of workers in Zimbabwe.
He said ITUC and the Nigeria Labour Congress will petition the International Court of Justice to protest the violation of human rights in that country and the violence that follow the peaceful protest by the workers.
Wabba also asks the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the African Union to invoke relevant labour conventions in dealing with the issue in Zimbabwe, adding that it was an irony that the same government which the labour union fought for is the one hunting down labour leaders.
He said organised labour in Nigeria will not hesitate to seal up the embassy in Abuja if the Zimbabwean government failed to adhere to their calls and release the detained labour leaders in that country.
Wabba called on the Zimbabwean Government to release detained leaders of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) and 39 others arrested for participating in protest march over fuel price increase.
Wabba said that the NLC has followed with a sense of outrage the ugly incidents that have trailed the mass protests in Zimbabwe, adding that that the protest was occasioned by the sudden increase in pump prices of petroleum products by the government of Zimbabwe.
He said: "the protest is against what many Zimbabweans perceive as insensitive policy choices by the government of Zimbabwe. The Nigerian working class family is sad that what should have passed as a civil action in democratic climes was met with disproportionate use of force by the Zimbabwean military and security forces.
"The brazen show of force culminated into widespread suppression and violation of the fundamental human rights of ordinary Zimbabweans, who were exposed to an orgy of violence, bloodshed and acts of state cruelty.
"The NLC is particularly concerned about allegations of home raids, killings, rapes, robbery and physical assaults against workers, women, children and civilians generally, during the so-called crackdown of protests by the Zimbabwean security forces.''
President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Ayuba Wabba who led the workers said if the Zimbabwean government refuse to release the Union leaders, workers across the world will be mobilised to shut down the Zimbabwean embassies across the world.
Wabba who is also the president of the International Trade Union (ITUC ) asked the United Nations to invoke relevant international conventions to protect the right of workers in Zimbabwe.
He said ITUC and the Nigeria Labour Congress will petition the International Court of Justice to protest the violation of human rights in that country and the violence that follow the peaceful protest by the workers.
Wabba also asks the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the African Union to invoke relevant labour conventions in dealing with the issue in Zimbabwe, adding that it was an irony that the same government which the labour union fought for is the one hunting down labour leaders.
He said organised labour in Nigeria will not hesitate to seal up the embassy in Abuja if the Zimbabwean government failed to adhere to their calls and release the detained labour leaders in that country.
Wabba called on the Zimbabwean Government to release detained leaders of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) and 39 others arrested for participating in protest march over fuel price increase.
Wabba said that the NLC has followed with a sense of outrage the ugly incidents that have trailed the mass protests in Zimbabwe, adding that that the protest was occasioned by the sudden increase in pump prices of petroleum products by the government of Zimbabwe.
He said: "the protest is against what many Zimbabweans perceive as insensitive policy choices by the government of Zimbabwe. The Nigerian working class family is sad that what should have passed as a civil action in democratic climes was met with disproportionate use of force by the Zimbabwean military and security forces.
"The brazen show of force culminated into widespread suppression and violation of the fundamental human rights of ordinary Zimbabweans, who were exposed to an orgy of violence, bloodshed and acts of state cruelty.
"The NLC is particularly concerned about allegations of home raids, killings, rapes, robbery and physical assaults against workers, women, children and civilians generally, during the so-called crackdown of protests by the Zimbabwean security forces.''
Source - The Nation
