We Are All Victims, We Stand With Our Gallant Youths Says TUC

The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, has said it stands with Nigerian  youths who have been on the streets in various parts of the country in the last two weeks demanding an end to police brutality and bad governance in the country.

The Union has also condemned in strongest terms, the killings and maiming of innocent youths some of whom are Nigerian workers by the agents of the state.

In a press statement signed by  TUC Presudent, Comrade Quadri  Olaleye and Secretary General, Comrade Musa-Lawal Ozigi, TUC salutes the uncommon courage of the youths who turned out enmass to protect the future of the country even in the face of attacks by alleged state sponsored thugs.

According to TUC the protests have been largely peaceful until the state sponsored violence against unarmed youths.

” TUC believes that in any event of law-breaking and disorder, the standard around the world to quench such are use of water cannon, baton, teargas, and rubber bullets. No sane government would use live ammunition on its youths.

” We call on  government to as a matter of urgency identify the leader’s of the protesting youths for a roundtable discussion with a view to listen to the agitations, address the concerns such as police and other security agencies brutality, unemployment, corruption, unfair labour treatment, human capital development and infrastructural deficit among others.

” We Call on our gallant youths and law enforcement agent’s to shealth their swords for meaningful discussion to take place. No war has ever been won on battle ground rather, on the table”, the union noted.

According TUC there  is the need for immediate investigation into the killings and maiming of innocent protesters; the sponsors of the thugs that attacked the youths and public facilities; prosecution of the security agent’s involved in the killings and adequate compensation made for all the affected victims and their families.

TUC assured Nigerian youths of its unwavering support in the struggle for a better Nigeria.

 It also proposed an immediate conference of youths in the 36 states of the federation’s and the federal capital to douse the tensions and articulate the demands of the youth, adding that “after all states conference with youths, the federal government will now meet with the youths where government policy on youths can now be formulated.

” The conference should be broad based and should accommodate broad spectrum of opinions”,TUC said.