Nationwide strike looms as Organised Labour declared Wednesday, November 8, to down tools over the brutal attack of the President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero in Imo State.
Straightnews had reported how an aide allegedly attached to the governor of the State, Hope Uzodinma, led some thugs to have arrested and brutalised Ajaero while the policemen who looked the other way later took him to hospital during a protest to press home the demands of Imo workers bordering on alleged violation of their rights.
Addressing journalists at Labour House, Abuja on Friday, the General Secretary of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Nuhu Toro, who was accompanied by other officials of NLC, said they are demanding immediate redeployment of the Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Barde from the state.
Read also: Assaulted NLC President writhes in pain in Imo hospital
He said, “Comrade Joe Ajaero was blind folded, beaten to a pulp, brutalised, humiliated, and violated by the police personnel and taken to an unknown destination where he was subjected to more battering and torture as well as threatened with death before help came his way via the National Security Adviser, Mr Nuhu Ribadu who ordered for his immediate release.
“However, due to the severity of his injuries, the police had to take him to the Police Hospital where we made contact with him at 3:30 p.m. At the time of our first contact with Comrade Joe Ajaero, his right eye was puffed, black and shut, one of his ears has tiny trace of dried blood, his speech was slurred and incoherent.
Read also: Nationwide imminent over ‘disappearance’ of NLC President in Imo
“He had welts all over him. He did not recognise the people around him and could not walk without being aided or supported. Inevitably, he had to be taken to Federal Medical Centre, Owerri for more investigation.”
Other demands by both NLC and TUC members include immediate implementation of different industrial relations agreements reached, thorough and unbiased medical examination for Ajaero among others.
Read also: NLC, TUC Suspend Planned Strike Action For 30 Days
The TUC Scribe said, “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.
“We find it appropriate to let Nigerians know the sequence of events that led to our going to Owerri for a peaceful protest but which was aborted by the police and hoodlums recruited by the State Governor. This has become necessary so they do not fall victim to government’s propaganda or Police’s disinformation and misinformation.”
