Labour and Civil Society Front Condemns Repression Of Democratic Voices And Crippling Economic Policies In Nigeria
The Labour and Civil Society Front (LCSFront), a coalition of civil society organizations, human rights groups, and labour unions, has strongly condemned the rising repression of democratic and civil voices in Nigeria.
In a statement released on Wednesday, September 4, 2024, the group denounced the Nigeria Police’s actions against peaceful protesters, describing them as an affront to the country’s democratic values.
“The very nature of a democratic government is to protect the rights of citizens to dissent, and so, any action seeking to undermine that right is repressive and arbitrary,” said Amb Nkoyo Toyo, Chief Spokesperson for LCSFront. “We strongly believe that citizens’ protests against economic policies that are causing massive hunger and hardship in the country is lawful.”
The group criticized the police for tagging protesters as dissidents and treasonable felons, intent on overthrowing a democratic government. “Converting dissent into ‘treason’ and/or ‘a plot to overthrow the government’ is by itself ‘treason’ against the country’s 25-year-old constitutional democracy,” the statement read.
Labour and Civil Society Front urged the government and the Nigeria Police to take immediate steps to address the issues raised, including:
- Addressing all cases arising from the #endbadgovernance protests within 7 days
- Announcing a framework for addressing allegations against the NLC President and employees of the Ivy Bookshop
- Openly and transparently addressing all cases arising from the #endbadgovernance protests
- Exploring mechanisms for engagement with the youth and developing better channels of communication between citizens, youth, police, and government
- Reviewing policies that are crippling citizens’ livelihoods, such as the fuel scarcity and price hike
- Releasing civil protesters currently detained by security agencies under combative and vindictive charges.
The group emphasized that the government should seek ways to stem the worsening conditions of life for most Nigerians and review policies that are pauperizing citizens. “Government should, as a matter of responsibility and urgency, seek ways to stem the worsening conditions of life for most Nigerians and review some recent policy dimensions that are crippling citizens’ livelihoods,” the statement read.
LCSFront also expressed shock that under President Bola Tinubu, a pro-democracy activist, the state is displaying characteristics of military totalitarianism.
“The LSCFront is shocked that in Nigeria’s eight uninterrupted presidential transitions, it is under President Bola Tinubu that the State is now displaying all the ugly characteristics of military totalitarianism, a feature of the past,” the statement said.
The group called on the government to dialogue with known protest voices and civil society leaders to avert another nationwide mass protest slated for October.
“Government should without delay dialogue with known protest voices and civil society leaders to avert another nationwide mass protest slated for October,” the statement read.
