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US Longshore Workers Union Writes Tinubu Government To End Repression Against NLC, Release All Protesters

US Longshore Workers Union Writes Tinubu Government To End Repression Against NLC, Release All Protesters
August 21, 2024

The letter addressed to the Nigerian embassy, read, “On August 7, government security forces staged a nighttime raid ransacking the headquarters of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), seizing printed materials and other documents. 

Workers in San Francisco, United States under the umbrella of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 10, which represents longshoremen working in the San Francisco Bay Area, have written to the Nigerian government demanding an end to repression against the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and its leaders.

 

They made the demand in a letter dated August 19, 2024 and signed by its President, Trent Willis, where they also demanded that the Nigeria Police Force should return all the seized materials be returned, and that there be no further reprisals against the NLC.

 

The letter addressed to the Nigerian embassy, read, “On August 7, government security forces staged a nighttime raid ransacking the headquarters of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), seizing printed materials and other documents. 

 

“The International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 10, which represents longshoremen working in the San Francisco Bay Area, protests in the strongest terms this attack against our fellow trade-unionists. 

 

“We demand that all the seized materials be returned, and that there be no further reprisals against the NLC.

 

“This raid came just hours after the NLC held a meeting critical of your government's repression against students and others who have been protesting over the last two weeks against the austerity measures imposed by your government. 

 

“Scores of protesters have been killed. Hundreds more, including prominent protest leaders, have been arrested and many are still in jail. 

 

“These include protest leaders such as Adaramoye Michael ("Michael Lenin", national coordinator of the Youth Rights Campaign, Mosiu Sodiq, Eleojo Opaluwa and Babatunde Oluajo ("OSB Sankara"). 

 

“According to the latest reports, Michael, Sodiq and Eleojo remain in custody. The NLC rightly condemned your attempt to criminalise protest.

 

“We have active members of our union who were born in Nigeria and who maintain ties with their homeland. The international labor movement is watching. 

 

 

“We demand an end to the repression and freedom for all the detainees! Hands off the NLC!”

 

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Topics
Human Rights