The Nigeria Labour Congress has condemned what it described as “the invasion of its Secretariat”, Labour House, Abuja by thugs right under the noses of the police.

In a press statement signed by it’s acting secretary general, Mr. Owei Lekemfa, organised labour accused the government of unleash thugs numbering about seventy who were hired by government agents.

The statement claims that the said thugs apologized for their action claiming that they were not told they were being brought to the NLC and also revealed that they were promised N1,000 (one thousand naira) each to carry out the invasion.

Subsequently, forcing the agents that brought them to pay the N1,000 fee right in the presence of the cameras.

Labour claims that government failed in its attempt to cause a fracas and claim that workers are divided over the issue of fuel price increase.

The statement reads that The NLC views this incident as another desperate attempt by the increasingly isolated and unpopular Jonathan administration to stop the mass movement against its insensitive and ridiculous fuel price increases of between 120-220 per cent.

The labour movement says there is no backing down on its stand on a nation wide strike on Monday 9th january 2012 and that the right of Nigerians to peaceful assembly and protest is a fundamental one which no government can abridge.