NLC Protesters Beat Civil Servant, Lock Offices During Protest

About fifteen protesters, who are Nigeria Labour Congress members drawn from various ministries, judiciary, parastatals and agencies on Tuesday stormed the Oyo State Secretariat protesting and beating civil servants.

Civil servants were beaten up by the protesters under the watch of some labour leaders, disrupting activities in government offices for several hours, locking some in their offices.

Recall that the ongoing protest by the Nigeria Labour Congress, Oyo State chapter began on Monday.

National Daily NEWS gathered that the aggrieved labour members blocked the entrance to the Government secretariat in the State over unpaid deduction arrears.

This is their first attempt to press home their demand for payment of their deductions, allowances among other struggles.

While some protesters stormed the entrance of the State secretariat, some male members of the union were assigned to sack offices within secretariat, chasing out civil servants.

The protesters, who carried sticks sang songs and disrupted official duties.

A civil servant, Dare Olaniyan sustained injuries when he was manhandled by the protesters.

Speaking with NATIONAL Daily News, Dare, a staff of Oyo State Ministry of Information, and Orientation, said he was beaten by some of the protesters, despite the fact that he identified with their struggle.

He said, “I came inside Secretariat presmises to pick my belongings, in the office. All attempts to explain this to the protesters fell on deaf ears, as they launched an attack on me, for no just cause”.

“But rather than settle the issue amicably, the NLC members decided to go physical, engaging me and others with me in a fight”, he said.

Meanwhile, as the protesters unleashed terror on Dare Olaniyan, the Executive Assistant to the Governor on Security, CP Sunday Odukoya (rtd) who drove to the scene stopped them immediately.

Mr. Odukoya then told the protesters that it was unacceptable that protesters attack civil servants.

He added, “beating civil servants in the name of protest is against the law. You must desist from this act henceforth.”