The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has implored Nasir El-Rufai, Governor of Kaduna State, to stop attacking workers of the state and respect their fundamental human rights.
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The group said this in a statement issued by Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP Deputy Director, in reaction to the reports of the disruption of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) protest by armed thugs in Kaduna on Tuesday.
Governor El-Rufai had also earlier on Tuesday declared the NLC president, Ayuba Wabba, and other leaders of the congress wanted for alleged economic sabotage.
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The statement read: “Governor, Nasir El-Rufai and Kaduna state authorities must end the harassment and intimidation of NLC leaders and withdraw the illegal statement declaring Mr Wabba and other NLC leaders ‘wanted’.
“Kaduna authorities must respect the human rights of Nigerian workers, and ensure the safety and security of the leaders of Nigeria Labour Congress.
“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.
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“Authorities ought to protect workers from attacks by thugs. Allowing thugs to disrupt peaceful protest by workers is illegal and unconstitutional.
“The government of President Muhammadu Buhari should investigate why the security forces stood by and watched as thugs disrupted and assaulted protesters-and 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.”
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SERAP also demanded the immediate reinstatement of the nurses below Grade Level 14, who were dismissed by Governor El-Rufai for participating in the strike.
The statement read: “Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai should immediately reinstate Kaduna State University lecturers and nurses unlawfully dismissed for allegedly joining the strike in the state.
“We’ll hold Governor Nasir El-Rufai and Kaduna authorities to account for the blatant violations of human rights.
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“Governor Nasir El-Rufai should 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 brutal crackdown on peaceful protesters.”
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The NLC commenced a five-day warning strike in the state on Monday following the decision by Nasir El-Rufai, Governor of Kaduna State to disengage 4,000 workers across the 23 local government areas, citing the state’s high wage bill for the development.
The strike has resulted in a power outage, shut down of the airport, closure of schools and fuel queues in various parts of the state.
