Nationwide strike looms over the purported arrest and ‘disappearance’ of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Comrade Joe Ajaero in Imo State.
This is as Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) have condemned the alleged arrest of Labour President and vowed to go on unplanned strike.
Ajaero was allegedly arrested Wednesday, November 1, at the protest being held by NLC members in Imo state. However, the Imo state government denied new of the arrest.
Read also
- Join in ‘Prosperity for all’ nationwide strike – NLC tells Nigerians
- NLC to go on indefinite strike – President
- Police Quiz two Over alleged gas plant cashier’s murder in Imo
Ajaero was said to have been picked from the NLC State Council Secretariat Wednesday, November 1 by heavily armed policemen in Owerri and taken to an unknown destination.
A joint statement signed by the General Secretary (NLC), Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja Esq. and Secretary General (TUC) Comrade Nuhu Toro, respectively, explained that Ajaero was bundled into the waiting van of security operatives and whisked away to an unknown destination where he is held incommunicado.
The unions told its members to be on alert for immediate nationwide action if, by the end of today, the President of the Congress is not released.
The statement reads “The Government of Imo state has continued to use the instrument of violence and intimidation against trade unions and their leadership in the state.
Just as Nigerian workers gathered earlier this morning led by the leadership of the two labour centres to demonstrate our outrage over the serial and habitual abuse and violation of the rights of workers in the state; the Government unleashed blood-cuddling mayhem on the workers.
Earlier in the morning, policemen had tried to disperse workers who were gathering at the state NLC secretariat without success. This was followed in the usual manner by thugs who were stationed very close to the Secretariat in several Hilux and Toyota trucks.
These thugs were later to unleash mayhem on the few workers who had already gathered smashing car windscreens, delivering matchet cuts on some, stabbing many, and inflicting all manners of injuries on the workers. GSM handsets were snatched, Laptops taken away and Monies were forcefully taken away by the hoodlums.
As if that damage was not enough, the President of the NLC; comrade Joe Ajaero arrived at the venue accompanied by a few individual workers to inspect the carnage and to provide the necessary leadership for the trade union action to continue only to be met by policemen of the Imo state Police Command who came in their numbers and in several trucks.
The Police in the usual manner accompanied by thugs led by the Special Assistant to the Governor of Imo state on Special Duties: Mr. Chinasa Nwaneri leading others like Tapey and Madoka descended on the President of the Congress after overpowering the few workers who were left after the initial battering, inflicted heavy injuries and big blows to his head and body and kicking him in the process while dragging him on the ground while the Police supervised the mayhem.
They eventually bundled the President into their waiting van and whisked him away to an unknown destination where he is still being held incommunicado as we write. This latest action of the State Government and the Police further demonstrates our earlier cries to Nigerians on the level of violence and impunity going on in Imo State. If the President of the Congress can be abducted in broad daylight and taken to an unknown destination by the Police and the State Governor, imagine, what they have been doing to workers and trade union leaders in the state!
This is mind-boggling and unacceptable in sane societies. The use of violence against innocent citizens especially against trade union leaders by the State has unfortunately become the norm. It is a new normal that may cost our nation dearly if people are allowed to get away with such violence and bloodletting.
All we have been asking the governor is to honour agreements signed between us and to respect the rights of workers in the state. Workers deserve their wages and if you are in the habit of owing workers, you make their lives unstable and strip them of their humanity. These are some of the things we have asked Hope to do but to which he has refused to heed instead, he believes in the use of intimidation and violence against the workers and the people.
We call on Nigerian workers, wherever they may be; in the respective industrial Unions; the state councils, and the Branches to be on alert for an immediate nationwide action if, by the end of today, the President of the Congress is not released. We cannot be at work while our President is in the gulag and we cannot be at peace when the Government of Imo state continues to disrespect workers and treat them with utter disdain.
With this statement, we want to put the Nigerian Government on notice that we want the President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) immediately released. The injuries meted to him must be treated forthwith and his freedom to lead Nigerian workers in a peaceful protest guaranteed.
This is what we demand as we proceed to the meetings of the various Organs to make decisions on further steps that will be taken. If this is not heeded now, anything that happens in the Country, the Governor of Imo State, and the Police Commissioner must be held responsible.
Nigeria is a Country of Laws and we especially the leaders must learn to work within its ambits. The IGP who is in the State must call his operatives to avoid loss of lives, properties and further injuries to innocent workers in Imo State. Workers in Imo State must be free and we must all join hands to ensure that this happens.
Hope Uzodimma must be called to order by the President and Commander in chief of the Armed forces to avert what he has chosen to turn the state into – a den of thugs and bloodsuckers. We will press on with our engagement as trade unions until the Government listens to the demands of the workers.
The governor should not be deluded into thinking that today’s violence will stop our resolve and determination to save the workers of Imo state. It has encouraged us to organize more so that we will engage him more creatively and effectively. Once again, we call on the Police to immediately release the President of Congress without further delay.”
Police deny arrest of Ajaero
The Imo State Police Command has denied reports it arrested the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Joe Ajaero in Owerri.
A statement released by the spokesperson of the command, ASP Henry Okoye, says the NLC President was in Owerri as part of arrangements of the Congress to mobilize workers for a mega protest rally in the state.
According to Okoye, in the course of their planning, it was reported that suggestions arose for the lockdown of some essential facilities particularly the airport which led to some workers and other individuals resisting the picketing process leading to scuffles and heated arguments and an eventual attack on the person of the president by a mob.
‘’Upon receiving this report, the Imo Police Command swiftly deployed police operatives to the scene where the Officer in Charge exercised his operational discretion by taking the NLC President into protective custody at the State Command Headquarters to ensure the protection of his life and that he was not lynched in the scuffle that followed. The Commissioner of Police thereafter directed that he should be taken to the Police Medical Services, Owerri, where he would be accorded medical attention as a result of the attack. He has therefore been accorded adequate security cover to proceed on his other legitimate engagements for the day.
It is, however, necessary to emphasize the existence of a court injunction from the National Industrial Court of Nigeria holding in Owerri with Suit No. NICN/OW/41/2023 dated 27th October, 2023, barring the NLC from holding the intended protest rally in Owerri.” the statement read
Okoye added that the state Commissioner of Police, Imo State Police Command, CP Mohammed Ahmed Barde, urges all concerned parties to ensure compliance with the Court directives so as to avoid jeopardizing the current security arrangements on Owerri and other parts of Imo State, even as the State gears up for the forthcoming electioneering process on 11th November 2023.
