BREAKING: Workers Declare Nationwide Strike Over Beating of NLC President, List 7 Conditions
- The organised labour has announced a nationwide strike beginning from Wednesday, November 8, over the beating and abduction of the NLC president, Joe Ajaero
- In a joint statement by the NLC and the TUC, the workers expressed disappointment over the federal government's silence on the attacks on the workers
- However, the union listed seven conditions, including the redeployment of the Imo State commissioner of police, before the strike can be suspended
FCT, Abuja - Nigerian workers, under the auspice of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), have announced a plan to embark on a nationwide strike over the beating and abduction of the union's president, Joe Ajaero.
According to a statement of the union seen by Legit.ng, the strike would be held on Wednesday, November 8. The statement was released after a press conference in Abuja on Friday, November 3.
Source: Twitter
The workers said industrial harmony could not be guaranteed in Nigeria from November 8.
Why the NLC president was beaten in Imo State
Ajaero, on Wednesday, November 1, mobilised the labour leaders in Owerri but was attacked and "severely injured" by some thugs who the NLC said were sponsored by the state government.
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The Labour leader expressed disappointment with:
“The deafening silence of the federal government, and the extent to which men of the Nigeria Police in Owerri could go in meting out harm to peaceful protesters and newsmen in a bid to ensure evidence of their acts were confiscated.”
They noted that the defence put forward by the Imo State Police Command was irritating, adding that Ajaero was “battered, concussed, puffed-eyed, debilitated and condemned” with threats of death while commending Nuhu Ribadu, the national security adviser, for the timely intervention.
Labour demands
"The Commissioner of Police, Imo State Command, CP Ahmed Barde, should not only be investigated and deployed out of Imo state for his serial complicitous and unprofessional behaviour and conduct immediately;
“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 be relieved of his office and stripped of his commission;
“Mr Nwaneri Chinasa, Adviser on Special Duties who supervised the terror on workers and brutality meted out to Congress President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, be arrested immediately and prosecuted for his crimes against workers and the President.
“We demand an immediate, independent and unbiased thorough professional medical examination of Comrade Ajaero in light of the physical and psychological injuries inflicted on him.
“Other workers and journalists subjected to this inhuman treatment by the Police and the Hope Uzodimma’s goons be treated by the State and all the properties lost be restored immediately.
“All the outstanding Industrial Relations issues, as previously agreed with the Imo State Government, be implemented immediately.
“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.”
See the tweet here:
MC Oluomo to NLC: "Don’t blackmail govt with NURTW crisis"
Legit.ng earlier reported that the NURTW chairman in Lagos, Musiliu Akinsanya, AKA MC Oluomo, has warned the NLC against interfering in the road union affairs.
Oluomo accused the NLC of using the crisis rocking the NURTW at the national level to negotiate with the federal government on the removal of the fuel subsidy.
NLC described the move by the NLC to raise the NURTW affairs during negotiation as blackmail against the federal government.
Source: Legit.ng
