The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) on Saturday denounced Kaduna State Governor Nasir El‑Rufai as a “right‑wing extremist” who does not respect the rule of law. The union condemned the governor’s “irresponsible and dangerous” remarks about the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN). In a statement signed by outgoing NLC President Ayuba Wabba, the NLC said El‑Rufai’s disparaging comments, aired on national television, were “irresponsible, unbecoming and dangerous” because they could undermine public institutions. The statement described the allegations against the NICN as “spurious, mischievous, malicious and prejudicial,” reflecting El‑Rufai’s “bigotry and ignorance” of basic judicial matters. It added that the NICN could not have prevented him from pursuing the criminal aspect of his complaint.
Wabba argued that El‑Rufai’s remarks portray him as a governor who “neither believes in rules nor systems.” He warned that the right‑wing extremism represented by El‑Rufai threatens democracy, as it rejects established laws and seeks to destroy anything beyond its control. The NLC emphasized that public‑service rules must be respected by both government and employees, and that labour standards should be upheld by all, including the governor. “Hiring and firing workers like slaves has no place in a democratic system guided by the rule of law,” Wabba asserted.
During an interview on Channels Television last Wednesday, El‑Rufai described Nigeria’s judicial system as a “pathetic system that sides more with crooks than the innocent.” He claimed that Kaduna State had been unable to convict officials who stole state funds because the courts made convictions difficult. El‑Rufai also said that establishing the National Industrial Court was one of Nigeria’s biggest mistakes and cited cases where the court freed individuals accused of corruption.
Comments are closed for this story.