Labour adamant on strike over Ajaero
•NEC meets to take decision
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has commenced full swing mobilisation as its affiliates and state councils fine-tune plans to shutdown the nation on Wednesday.
The NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) had on Friday resolved to embark on a nationwide strike to protest attack on Mr. Joe Ajaero.
He was arrested by operatives of the Nigerian Police during a protest march organised by the Congress in Owerri, Imo State, in response to claims that the state government was abusing and violating rights of its workers.
NLC alleged Ajaero was brutalised by security agents attached to Governor Hope Uzodimma. However, the Imo Police command has refuted the allegations, saying he was not arrested but taken into protective custody to avoid being lynched by a mob.
To avert the strike, the Labour centres had demanded investigation and deployment of the Commissioner of Police in Imo; sack of the Area Commander of the Police and all other officers and men in Owerri through whom the Police Commissioner supervised the the attack as well as the arrest and immediate prosecution of Mr Nwaneri Chinasa, aide to the governor.
The workers unions also asked for an immediate, independent and unbiased thorough professional medical examination of all victims of the attack, immediate restoration of all properties lost and urgent implementation of all the outstanding industrial relations agreements previously entered with the state government.”
Ahead of the industrial action, the top hierarchy of the Organised labour organs would meet in Abuja tomorrow to ratify the proposed nationwide strike.
In a telephone interview, one of the leaders of the NLC told Daily Sun that the strike would go on as scheduled, but the National Executives Council (NEC) of the two bodies have to give the directive.
According to the NLC, only the implementation of its demands can stop it from grounding the country. “We are all going to Abuja on Tuesday for the meeting. All the affiliates have fully mobilized for the action, we are all just waiting for the directives from the centre.”
He noted that both the NLC and TUC were united in the struggle and the TUC has equally scheduled its NEC meeting for tomorrow.
According to the labour leader, some event in recent times have further accentuated the fact for the nationwide shut down. “What has happened since that day, some information we are hearing have further made it worst and we are prepared for the NEC’s directive,” he stated.
NLC alleges attack on Ajaero’s Imo hometown
Meanwhile, the NLC has alleged invasion and attack on Ajaero’s home town of Azalla Owalla in Emekuku, Owerri in Imo State.
The NLC in a statement by the Head Media and Information, Benson Upah alleged that the latest attack on Ajaero’s community on Saturday could be a plot to assassinate the Congress boss.
“It is evident that the Governor’s sinister objective is the assassination of the President of the Congress, a motive laid bare by this latest act of aggression on the community,’ the statement read.
Recalling the assault on Ajaero and others, the statement said, “in a shocking turn of events, on the morning of November 4, 2023, Governor Hope Uzodimma, once again demonstrated his utter disregard for human rights and democratic principles by invading and attacking the community.”
According to Upah, the invasion was carried out under the misguided belief that Ajaero was still present, recovering from injuries inflicted by the police and hired thugs.
He opined that the use of excessive force against citizens who hold differing opinions or dare to question the Governor’s governance style, particularly in relation to the inhumane treatment of workers in Imo State, is an affront on democracy.
He stated the current situation in Imo State is nothing short of a descent into fascism, where terror takes precedence over reason, and dialogue is pushed to the sidelines.
He charged the Inspector General of Police to rein in, the Imo State Police Commissioner, preventing further abuse and desecration of the na
Call Uzodimma to order
The Congress also called on President Tinubu and all patriotic citizens not to remain silent in the face of what it called “this bloodshed.”
“It is imperative that the governor be held accountable. We believe that the President holds the means to rein in the excesses of the Governor, and these measures must be swiftly employed to safeguard lives and properties in the state.
“The people of Azalla Owalla are entitled to their peace, and the continued occupation of their community by the Police and Uzodimma’s thugs, in the wake of the assault on their fellow citizen, constitutes an ongoing insult.
“The occupying forces must immediately vacate the territory, granting the people the freedom to engage in their socioeconomic activities without the looming specter of terror,” the statement read further.
It equally added that the governor should be under no illusion as Nigerian workers remain steadfast in their commitment to protect the rights of Imo State workers, undeterred by the current wave of violence he has chosen to pursue.
Attack violates his human rights – NASU
The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), in a statement by Mr Peters Adeyemi, its General Secretary has described the attack on NLC president as “a violation of trade union rights as well as the human rights of Ajaero.”
“The rights, which Ajaero was exercising in Owerri as the leader of the working people of Nigeria, is guaranteed by the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 Constitution (as amended), and International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions.
“Nigeria, as a member-state of ILO, has ratified ILO Conventions on Freedom of Association and Protection of Rights to Organise, 1948 (No.87), and the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining, 1949 (No.98),” he noted.
Adeyemi, deputy president, Public Service International (PSI), accused the Imo government of unfair labour practices.
“The government hasn’t paid salaries and pension; it is not right to attack workers union leaders asking why these monies have not been paid,” the statement.
He added that Ajaero was on a solidarity visit to the workers in Imo and shouldn’t have been visited with tendencies “which were common in Nigeria only during military regimes.”
NASU rejected the claims that Ajaero was kept under “protective custody” in his own interest, and urged President Bola Tinubu to order a thorough investigation into the episode.
It said that such intervention would give trade unions the assurance that a clampdown would not be their lot whenever there is a dispute between government and labour.
He’s LP member – Onochie
The immediate past Chairman of the governing Board of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Lauretta Onochie, has said that the national President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, is an unapologetic member of Labour Party (LP).
Onochie, while reacting to the recent happening in Imo state, took to her official X, formerly Twitter, to make this known.
“It’s not in doubt that Joe Ajaero is an unapologetic member of Labour Party.” Said, Lauretta Onochie.
She said further that, Ajaero went round, campaigning with the former former Anambra State Governor and Presidential candidate of Labour Party during the last general election.
“He (Ajaero) went round, campaigning with Peter Obi, in their Labour Party Aso-ebi, during the just concluded election session.”
Onochie added that, Ajaero did not know that Nigerian workers belong to other parties than Peter Obi’s political party.
“He didn’t know that Nigerian workers belong to other parties than EluPee,” she said.
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