Human Rights Writers Association (HURIWA), a civil society organisation, has condemned the Lagos State anti-street trading law.
In a statement in Abuja yesterday signed by its National Coordinator, Mr Emmanuel Onwubiko, the organisation said the law was intended to stifle the poor majority in the state.
It described the law as “draconian, unconstitutional, un-African and uncharitable”, accusing all tiers of government of having policies which affected the less-privileged.
According to HURIWA, the policies and law are not only anti-poor but targeted at further economic enslavement of the poor.
The rights group reminded states with such policies that their actions were targeted at killing millions of Nigerians.
It said it was a shame that rights activists and lawyers in the state were keeping silent about the issue.
It threatened to go to court.
The group condemned the government and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Environmental Enforcement Authority for pursuing “evil policies”.
Onwubiko said the policies contravened Sections 14 (1) (2), 15 (2) (a) (b) (c) and (d) (14) (1) of the 1999 Constitution.
Noting that Nigeria comprised states operating on the principle of democracy and social justice, HURIWA said it was “pure evil” to enact laws that would further impoverish the people.
It urged the states and the FCT with such laws to provide affordable shops for the people.
Under the law buyers and seller are liable to N90, 000 fine or six months in prison or both.
In a statement in Abuja yesterday signed by its National Coordinator, Mr Emmanuel Onwubiko, the organisation said the law was intended to stifle the poor majority in the state.
It described the law as “draconian, unconstitutional, un-African and uncharitable”, accusing all tiers of government of having policies which affected the less-privileged.
According to HURIWA, the policies and law are not only anti-poor but targeted at further economic enslavement of the poor.
The rights group reminded states with such policies that their actions were targeted at killing millions of Nigerians.
It threatened to go to court.
The group condemned the government and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Environmental Enforcement Authority for pursuing “evil policies”.
Onwubiko said the policies contravened Sections 14 (1) (2), 15 (2) (a) (b) (c) and (d) (14) (1) of the 1999 Constitution.
Noting that Nigeria comprised states operating on the principle of democracy and social justice, HURIWA said it was “pure evil” to enact laws that would further impoverish the people.
It urged the states and the FCT with such laws to provide affordable shops for the people.
Under the law buyers and seller are liable to N90, 000 fine or six months in prison or both.
0 comments: