The Kaduna State Police Command has warned the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) against carrying out its planned protest over sacked workers.

The Police warned NLC to stay away from the state, saying: “Present law of the state prohibits all forms of public protests.”

Ayuba Wabba, the NLC President, in a statement on Tuesday, said the union would commence a series of actions with the first phase of protests in Kaduna on Thursday to constitutionally defend the rights of the affected workers.

The NLC condemned the sack of the teachers and thousands of other workers by the state government.

“Having exhausted all processes aimed at constructive engagement with the state government, it is clear that (Governor Nasir) el-Rufai has to be stopped by all means with all means lawful for the sake of Kaduna State and the Nigerian people,” Wabba said

But, Agyole Abeh, the state Commissioner of Police, at a press briefing on Wednesday in Kaduna, warned that individuals or group intending to carry out any public protest or procession should, in the interest of public peace, shelve such plans as the Police would not stand by and watch the peace enjoyed by the citizens of the state truncated.

“We wish to remind that the last incident relating to the same issues of teachers where the organised labour union staged what was supposed to be a peaceful protest turned out to be a near breach of the public peace in the state, which resulted to chaos and destruction of some properties of government especially at the State House of Assembly.

“It is also in the interest of the good people of Kaduna State to note that those who might be contemplating to come to Kaduna to foment trouble are strictly advised to stay away from the state as the command is prepared to deal decisively with any such person or group,” the CP said.

The Kaduna State government, as part of its education reform in the state, had sacked "incompetent and unqualified" teachers.

The teachers will be replaced by competent graduates appointed through a transparent process, the state government has repeatedly said. President Muhammadu Buhari has since declared support for the reform efforts.

•Photo by Garba Ahmed shows Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Agyole Abeh (left), with Deputy Commissioner of Police Operations, Abdulrahman Ahmed, during a press briefing by the state Police Commissioner on the planned protest by Nigeria Labour Congress and Nigeria Union Teachers (NUT) in Kaduna.

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