The police have warned labour leaders and workers in Kogi State against blocking the highway over their labour dispute with the state government.
The Force said it had information that the labour leaders planned to obstruct the road, and warned them against such provocative plan.
A statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Olabisi Kolawole, on Tuesday in Abuja, admonished the workers and their leaders to restrict themselves to legal and labour procedures that will not in any way cause discomfort to innocent citizens.
It said, “While the police recognise and respect the constitutional rights of labour force in Kogi to peaceful assembly and lawful protest in furtherance to their dispute with their employers, the Nigeria Police wish to state categorically that extending their protest to blocking highways/roads in the state, in a manner that will cause major traffic and security threats, is not only overreaching the extension of their grievances but also intolerable.
“As such, the Nigeria Police hereby warn striking workers in Kogi state to desist from hatching such inciting and provoking plans and restrict themselves to due legal and labour procedures that will not in anyway cause discomfort to innocent citizens.”
The Force cautioned them that failure to adhere strictly to the warning may compel it to “mobilise maximally to deal decisively with anyone or group trying to threaten the security or public peace under any guise of protest,” noting that it would not hesitate to bring such persons or group to justice.
The Kogi State Commissioner of Police, Emmanuel Ojukwu, could not be reached for comment on steps being taken by his command to prevent the workers from blocking the highway and causing hardship on road users.
He did not respond to calls to his phone and a text message that was sent to him did not elicit any response.
The Force said it had information that the labour leaders planned to obstruct the road, and warned them against such provocative plan.
A statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Olabisi Kolawole, on Tuesday in Abuja, admonished the workers and their leaders to restrict themselves to legal and labour procedures that will not in any way cause discomfort to innocent citizens.
It said, “While the police recognise and respect the constitutional rights of labour force in Kogi to peaceful assembly and lawful protest in furtherance to their dispute with their employers, the Nigeria Police wish to state categorically that extending their protest to blocking highways/roads in the state, in a manner that will cause major traffic and security threats, is not only overreaching the extension of their grievances but also intolerable.
“As such, the Nigeria Police hereby warn striking workers in Kogi state to desist from hatching such inciting and provoking plans and restrict themselves to due legal and labour procedures that will not in anyway cause discomfort to innocent citizens.”
The Force cautioned them that failure to adhere strictly to the warning may compel it to “mobilise maximally to deal decisively with anyone or group trying to threaten the security or public peace under any guise of protest,” noting that it would not hesitate to bring such persons or group to justice.
The Kogi State Commissioner of Police, Emmanuel Ojukwu, could not be reached for comment on steps being taken by his command to prevent the workers from blocking the highway and causing hardship on road users.
He did not respond to calls to his phone and a text message that was sent to him did not elicit any response.
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