By John Dike, Osogbo
Osun State Organised Labour has raised the alarm over an alleged plot to arrest, frame and intimidate some of its top leaders, warning that any attempt to carry out such action could trigger a total shutdown of economic and public activities across the state.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the labour movement condemned what it described as an orchestrated campaign to profile and target key union leaders, allegedly following claims being circulated on social media by the Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to the statement, those allegedly marked for arrest include the chairmen of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), Joint Public Service Negotiating Council (JNC), Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN), the Chairman and Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), as well as the President, Deputy President and Treasurer of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), among other labour officials.
The organised labour described the alleged development as a direct assault on the constitutional rights of workers and an attempt to intimidate the labour movement ahead of the August 15 governorship election in Osun State.
It maintained that targeting labour leaders for politically motivated arrests would not only undermine democratic principles but could also heighten political tension and disrupt industrial harmony in the state.
The labour movement insisted it would not remain passive while its leaders were allegedly subjected to harassment or intimidation, warning that it was prepared to respond decisively to any attempt to arrest any of its officials.
According to the statement, any arrest of a labour leader would be met with an immediate and comprehensive shutdown of economic, public and private sector activities across Osun State
The workers’ body stressed that it had a responsibility to protect its members and defend the independence of organised labour against what it termed political interference.
It therefore appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Inspector-General of Police to urgently intervene and ensure that no action capable of escalating political tension or threatening public peace in Osun State is allowed to occur.
The warning comes amid heightened political activities and growing tension ahead of the August 15 governorship election, with political parties exchanging accusations of intimidation, harassment and abuse of state institutions.
