THE NIGERIA Labour Congress (NLC), and its counterpart labour centre, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) on Friday declared that it will embark on a nationwide strike beginning Wednesday, November 8, unless the federal government complies with some conditions which they outlined in relation to last Wednesday’s brutal attack on the President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero in Owerri, Imo State.
The two labour centres had last Wednesday issued a statement accusing Governor Hope Uzodinma’s government in Imo State of inspiring abduction and brutalisation of NLC President, Comrade Ajaero, and attack on other workers during a protest to press home the demands of Imo workers bordering on alleged violation of their rights.
At a press conference held at the Paschal Bafyau Labour House, Abuja on Friday, the NLC and TUC stressed the allegations of attack and brutalisation of workers against Governor Uzodinma and state functionaries in Imo State, including the Nigeria Police Force, Imo State Command.
Both centres threatened that they will embark on strike from Wednesday, November 8, 2023 unless some demands were met.
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They are, among other things, demanding the investigation, and redeployment of the Imo State Commissioner of Police, Mr Ahmed Barde, “for his serial complicitous and unprofessional behaviour and conduct immediately”; the removal and stripping of his commission the Area Commander of the Nigeria Police Force and all other officers and men in Owerri through whom the Police Commissioner supervised the brutalisation and humiliation of Comrade Ajaero and other workers; and that Mr Nwaneri Chinasa, the Adviser on Special Duties to Governor Uzodinma, “who supervised the terror on workers and bestial brutality meted out to Congress President; Comrade Joe Ajaero be arrested immediately and prosecuted for his crimes against workers and the President.”
The NLC and TUC are also demanding for an “independent and unbiased thorough professional medical examination of Comrade Ajaero in light of the physical and psychological injuries inflicted on him, along with other workers and journalists subjected to alleged maltreatment and immediate restoration of all the properties lost.
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They also demand for the immediate implementation of all the outstanding Industrial Relations issues as previously agreed with the Imo State Government.
“We further resolved that in the event the Government fails to comply with any or all of the conditions above-stated, NLC, TUC and their affiliates will no longer guarantee industrial peace in Nigeria beginning Wednesday the 8th of November, 2023 while a joint National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the two Labour Centres will meet to decide on the next course of action,” the NLC and TUC stressed.
