‘Why Oyo NLC Secretariat Was Shut’

The Police in Oyo State on Monday in Ibadan, said it sealed-off the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) secretariat to avert a break down of law and order in the state.

The Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Yabo Mohammed, told newsmen that the police was forced to intervene following what he called quarrels between workers.

Mohammed said the police had received reports of assault by the workers against each other, “‘as such it became mandatory to take proactive measures to avert any breach of the peace”.

“We cannot fold our hands and allow the situation to degenerate before we take action and that is what we have done.”

Our courrespondent reports that about 10 armed Mobile Policemen were deployed to seal the secretariat, with strict orders not allowing anybody access to the complex.

It would be recalled that civil servants in the state had gone on a three-week strike to demand the payment of N18, 000 minimum wage.

The NLC suspended the strike on Thursday after some unidentified persons stormed the secretariat and vandalised some vehicles belonging to workers.

The union accused the state government of masterminding the incident, alleging that those who carried out the attack were political thugs of the government.

However, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr Bosun Oladele, dissociated the government from the incident.

He told newsmen that the government had absolutely nothing to do with the attack and described the accusation as illogical.

“What does government stands to gain either by sealing off the secretariat of the workers or embarking on destruction of private property?

“It is unfortunate that our people are yet to shake off the hang-over of the previous years. How can a government that is put in place to protect lives and property engage in the destruction of the same property, it is not logical.”