Human rights threatens legal action against oil workers

A Human rights group, Citizens Advocacy for Social and Economic Rights (CASER), has threatened civil and criminal proceedings against oil workers and marketers unions, for their role in the recent fuel scarcity.

This is contained in a statement issued by the Executive Director of CASER, Mr Frank Tietie, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.

“As a starting point, CASER is immediately giving notice to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice to consider and prosecute these unions.

“Should the government fail to act accordingly, CASER shall take up the issues with the office of the AGF and other appropriate agents of the state,“ he said.

Tietie stated that the action of unions had not only “foisted unnecessary pains on Nigerians,’’ but also clearly violated the country’s labour and security laws.

“CASER is shocked at how Nigerian unions would so defy legal and civilised means of resolution of disputes with the government and find it so lucrative to plunge Nigeria into crisis.

“This they brazenly do at the slightest disagreement with the government and consequently bring horrendous and unspeakable hardships on innocent Nigerian citizens.

“For the sake of posterity, CASER shall never leave such wrongful illegality unchallenged,” Tietie said.

The executive director urged all Nigerian citizens, who have suffered losses arising from the “unnecessary energy crisis’’ to compile their losses in preparation for the legal action.

According to him, the Federal Republic of Nigeria is a country governed by law and not by puny interests of powerful individuals and groups.

He explained that Nigeria has one of the best human rights regimes in the world and such liberal legal environment must consequently translate to a commensurable increased standard of living for Nigerian citizens.

NAN recalls that the fuel scarcity which crippled social and economic activities throughout the country began on May 18, over nonpayment of the backlog of oil subsidy among others.