Workers Declare Nationwide Strike Over Beating of NLC President, List 7 Conditions
Workers Declare Nationwide Strike Over Beating of NLC President, List 7 Conditions
The organized labour announced a nationwide strike which will commence on Wednesday, November 8, over the beating and abduction of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) president, Joe Ajaero.
In a joint statement by the National Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), the workers showed disheartening over the federal government’s silence on the attacks on the workers.
Furthermore, the union wrote 7 Conditions including the redeployment of Imo State Commissioner if police before the Strike can be put to an end.
At Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigerian workers under the portent of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), have declared a plan to embark on a nationwide strike over the beating and abduction of the union president, Joe Ajaero.
Regarding the statement report of the union, the Strike will commence on Wednesday, November 8. The statement was made known after the press conference in Abuja on Friday, November 3.
The workers said industrial consonance could be assured in Nigeria from November 8.
Why the NLC President was Beaten in Imo State
On Wednesday, November 1, Ajaero gathered labour leaders in Owerri but was attacked and “severely injured” by some hoodlums whom the NLC spoke they were sponsored by the state government.
The Labour showed regret 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 also recognized that the defence presented by the State Police Command was irritating, attaching that Ajaero was “battered, concussed, puffed-eyed, debilitated, and condemned” with a warning of death while appreciating Nuhu Rihadu, the national security adviser, for the earlier intervention.
Labour Demands
Below is what the Nigeria Labour Congress demanded:
“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.”
MC Oluomo to NLC: “Don’t Blackmail Government with NURTW Crisis”
Earlier report received that the NURTW chairman in Lagos, Musiliu Akinsanya, AKA MC Oluomo, has warned the NLC against intruding in the road union affairs.
Oluomo accused the NLC of using crisis threatening the NURTW at the national level to negotiate with the federal government on the removal of fuel subsidies.
NLC explained the move by the NLC to increase the NURTW affairs during negotiation as blackmail against the Federal Government.
