NLC, TUC Declare Nationwide Strike Over Assault On President, Ajaero

Organised Labour on Monday declared a nationwide strike over the beating of the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Joe Ajaero in Owerri last week.

The two labour centres – the NLC and Trade Union Congress- directed workers to stay off work starting from Tuesday.

This decision is against the ruling of the National Industrial Court which barred Labour from embarking on strike.

The NLC president, Ajaero had led workers to protest against the Imo State Government where violence broke out.

Ajaero said he was handed over to thugs allegedly by a police officer and was “beaten like a common criminal.”

The redeployment of the Commissioner of Police in Imo State was one of the demands of Organised Labour.

Speaking with reporters after a joint National Executive Council meeting on Monday, President of TUC, Festus Osifo said all affiliates of the two labour centres had been mobilised to ensure the success of the strike.

Osifo said the strike would remain until “governments at all levels wake up to their responsibility.”

He said: “We demanded that the Area Commander that led the Police to carry out the brutalisation should be relieved of his duties and prosecuted. We asked also that Governor Hope Uzodinma’s SA on Special Duties, Chinasa Nwaneri, who everyone knew led the touts should also be arrested and prosecuted. Our list of demands is in the public domain.

“We gave an ultimatum that initially expired Wednesday last week. But on the eve of that expiration, we had a joint session of the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria. We looked at the time we gave and felt as responsible pan – Nigeria organisations, that we should give additional one week to see if the government will be responsive.

“And in order to further draw the attention of the government we had the picketing session last week Thursday but instead of the government to come out strongly, to condemn this criminality, instead of the government to speak and stand on the side of justice, some people in government were rather running their mouth and making all kinds of statement.

“So the two labour centers have resolved to stand firmly by the decision of the joint National Executive Council meeting that was held last week Tuesday, that effective from 12 midnight on the 14th of November, we shall declare a nationwide strike. So effective midnight today, a nationwide strike is going to commence.

“All affiliates of Trade Union Congress of Nigeria and Nigeria Labour Congress, all State Councils of the two labour centres have been mobilised adequately. And this is going to be indefinite until governments at all levels wake up to their responsibility. This is the decision of the joint NEC of NLC and TUC and we are to carry it out to the latter.”

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong, couldn’t be reached for comments as he didn’t respond to a short message sent to his official number.

The Director of Press and Public Relations of the ministry, Olajide Oshundun couldn’t be reached as of press time.

Some of the demands are: redeployment and investigation of the Commissioner of Police, Imo State Command; the sacking of 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 and Mr Nwaneri Chinasa, Adviser on Special Duties who supervised the terror on workers and bestial brutality meted out to Congress President, Comrade Joe Ajaero be arrested immediately and prosecuted for his crimes against workers and the President.

Others are: 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 inhuman treatment by the Police and the Hope Uzodimma’s goons be treated by the State and all the properties lost be restored immediately and the implementation of all outstanding Industrial Relations issues as previously agreed with the Imo state Government.