The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has publicly denounced the behavior displayed by Department of State Services (DSS) agents regarding the detention of Omoyele Sowore, the presidential candidate for the African Action Congress, at the Abuja Federal High Court. The union labeled the officers’ aggressive tactics as unprofessional and humiliating.
In an official statement, NLC President Joe Ajaero criticized the intimidating manner in which Sowore was apprehended. The labor organization questioned why the DSS acted with such force, noting that the agency appeared to be acting as both the accuser and the jailer. According to the NLC, the responsibility for such legal prosecutions should fall under the purview of the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Ministry of Justice.
The NLC argued that the DSS is veering away from its primary constitutional duty of safeguarding the state. By prioritizing the interests of specific individuals or the government, the agency risks compromising its integrity. The statement highlighted that under the law, individuals are innocent until a court decides otherwise.
Concluding their stance, the labor body emphasized that for democracy to flourish, the focus must shift toward building strong, independent institutions rather than catering to powerful individuals. They warned that when agencies prioritize pleasing those in authority, the democratic foundation of the nation is placed in jeopardy.
