By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, has been urged by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) to “immediately” end the growing crackdown on workers and protesters in the state.
A statement issued on Tuesday by SERAP Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, said he “must end the harassment and intimidation of NLC leaders and withdraw the illegal statement declaring [Ayuba] Wabba and other NLC leaders ‘wanted.’”
SERAP asked the Kaduna authorities to respect the human rights of Nigerian workers and ensure the safety and security of the leaders of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
“Declaring NLC leaders ‘wanted’ simply for peacefully exercising their human rights is antithetical to the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 [as amended] and the country’s international obligations.”
“Kaduna authorities ought to protect workers from attacks by thugs. Allowing thugs to disrupt peaceful protest by workers is illegal and unconstitutional,” SERAP said.
It urged President Muhammadu Buhari to investigate why the security forces stood by and watched as thugs disrupted and assaulted protesters – and to take action against those who did so.
“Using thugs to attack peaceful protesters is a crime against humanity. Authorities need to find out who was responsible for the assaults and punish them appropriately.
“… El-Rufai should immediately reinstate Kaduna State University lecturers and nurses unlawfully dismissed for allegedly joining the strike in the state.”
“We’ll hold [him] and Kaduna authorities to account for the blatant violations of human rights,” the statement said.
It urged El-Rufai to explain “why he reportedly unlawfully sacked all nurses” below grade level 14 in the state on the pretext that the nurses embarked on strike in solidarity with the NLC.
“We’ll see in court if the lecturers and nurses are not immediately reinstated.”
“We urge the UN human rights special rapporteurs to put pressure on Governor Nasir El-Rufai and Kaduna state to immediately end the brutal crackdown on workers and peaceful protesters.”