In response to the recent incident involving the physical altercation of the national president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero in Imo State, organized labor has declared a nationwide strike scheduled for Wednesday, November 8, 2023.
The incident occurred during a protest against the non-payment of workers by the Imo State Government in the state capital, where Ajaero was apprehended by the police. The NLC has alleged that the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, and the state Commissioner of Police, Barde, conspired to “abduct” Ajaero.
On Friday, November 3, during a joint briefing with journalists in Abuja, the Deputy President of NLC, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, and the deputy president of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) presented a list of six demands to the federal government in an effort to prevent the impending strike.
These demands include the “immediate removal of the Imo State commissioner of police, area commander, and other state government officials implicated in the alleged mistreatment of Ajaero and other workers who were victims of the assault.”
Adeyanju Adewale, the Deputy President of NLC, and Tommy Okon, the Deputy President of TUC, expressed their concerns to the press, stating:
“The NLC President was forcibly taken away by security personnel in the state, and it was only through intervention from the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, that he was released. Ajaero and other workers were subjected to physical violence, and their phones were confiscated. Journalists were also mistreated, and evidence of the incident was concealed from the public.
“We call for a thorough investigation into the actions of Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Barde, who should not only be redeployed but also held accountable for his role in the treatment of Ajaero.
“The Area Commander and other officers who oversaw the brutalization of our President and fellow workers in Owerri should be relieved of their duties and stripped of their commissions.
“Mr. Nwaneri Chinasa, the Adviser on Special Duties who supervised the aggression against workers and the President, must be promptly arrested and prosecuted for his actions against workers and the NLC President.
“We insist on an impartial and comprehensive inquiry into the incident involving the President.”