Connect with us

FEATURED

Ajaero’s Attack: ‘No Retract, No Surrender’ As NLC, TUC Give Tough Conditions For Ceasefire

Published

on

NLC
NLC Photo: The SUN





…Announce plans for nationwide strike beginning Wednesday

By Jimisayo Opanuga

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) have announced plans for a nationwide strike beginning on Wednesday, November 8, in response to the recent abduction and physical assault of their president, Joe Ajaero.

Advertisement

The incident occurred on Wednesday, when the Imo State Police Command, allegedly acting on the orders of the State Governor, abducted Ajaero from the NLC state council secretariat in Owerri, where he was waiting for colleagues to join him for a peaceful protest rally.

According to the labour unions, Ajaero was blindfolded, 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, Nuhu Ribadu, who ordered his immediate release.

The labour union issued a statement on Friday, signed by their General Secretaries, Emmanuel Ugboaja and Comrade Nuhu Toro, warning of an impending nationwide strike set to commence on Wednesday, November 8, should the government fail to address their demands.

Advertisement

“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,” the statement read.

The demands made by the labour unions included a call for the investigation and immediate removal of the Imo State Commissioner of Police, Cp. Ahmed Barde, due to his alleged complicity and unprofessional conduct.

“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 commissions,” it stated.

Advertisement

“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.”

The unions insisted on an immediate, independent, and unbiased professional medical examination for Ajaero to assess the extent of the physical and psychological injuries he suffered.

Additionally, the NLC and TUC demanded the treatment of other workers and journalists who had experienced inhumane treatment by the police, the restoration of their confiscated properties, and the implementation of all outstanding industrial relations issues previously agreed upon.

Advertisement

The unions also addressed allegations that they had disobeyed a court order, stressing the need for transparency and accountability regarding the circumstances surrounding the court order, provided a list of grievances that had led to their planned peaceful protest and called for the resolution of these issues.

“ Government repeatedly observed in breach agreements it voluntarily reached with Labour amongst which was the January 9th 2021; Non-payment of salaries and pensions for upward of 22 months ….in some instances, 44 months; Declaration of 11,000 hard-working workers as ghost workers and diversion of their salaries or emoluments to other uses; Serial vandalism of Congress secretariat for no just cause.”

(Guardian, excluding headline)

Advertisement
Advertisement
Click to comment
FEATURED5 hours ago

Senator Ned Nwoko Emerges Senate Ad-hoc Committee Chairman On Crude Oil Theft

COMMUNITY REPORT16 hours ago

Edo Fallen Dam: Group Urges State Govt To Send Relief Materials, Medical Aid To Polluted Community

FEATURED16 hours ago

Gov Oborevwori’s Aide Faces Backlash From Deltans On Radio Over Diatribe Against Senator Nwoko

FEATURED19 hours ago

How Gov Oborevwori’s Developmental Strides Is Unsettling Delta Opposition – Aniagwu

Delta
FEATURED1 day ago

Coalition Slams Delta Finance Commissioner: You Lied, Delta GDP Falls Short Of Its Huge FAAC, IGR 

BUSINESS2 days ago

Abdulrahman Bashar: How Nigerian Billionaire Oil And Gas Business Tycoon Was Jailed In Dubai

BUSINESS2 days ago

SPOTLIGHT ON YEMI CARDOSO AND HIS “FIRST ELEVEN” AT CBN, BY TONI KAN

CSR initiatives
FEATURED2 days ago

Okowa’s Former Aide, Monoyo Edon Resigns Membership Of Delta PDP

Rivers Assembly
FEATURED2 days ago

PDP’s Stronghold In Delta North Shaken Over Senator Nwoko’s Defection

Ikpokpo
FEATURED2 days ago

Delta PDP Loses More Bigwigs As Omo-Agege Formally Receives Ex- ALGON Chief, Ikpokpo To APC

Yahaya Bello
FEATURED2 days ago

ON YAHAYA BELLO: WHAT DOES GOV ODODO REALLY WANT, BY YUSHAU A. SHUAIB

OPINION3 days ago

WHO IS AFRAID OF SENATOR NWOKO?, BY KENNETH ORUSI

FEATURED3 days ago

NUJ Warri Correspondents Chapel Hails Billionaire Tycoon And Tantita’s VC, Tonlagha On Birthday Anniversary

NEWS5 days ago

Senator Nwoko’s Chief Of Staff Resigns Membership Of PDP

FEATURED5 days ago

Huge Turnout As Omo-Agege Engages APC Leaders, Faithful In Aniocha South And North Ahead 2027

Advertisement
Advertisement