Organized labor has announced a nationwide strike scheduled for Wednesday, November 8, in response to the physical altercation that took place on Monday, involving the national president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, in Imo State.
During a joint press briefing in Abuja, the Deputy President of the NLC, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, and the Deputy President of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), Comrade Etim Oko, presented a six-point demand to the federal government as a prerequisite to prevent the impending strike.
Among the demands are the immediate removal of the Imo State Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Barde, the removal of the Area Commander, the arrest and prosecution of Nwaneri Chinasa, the adviser to the state governor on special duties, and other state government officials implicated in the alleged mistreatment of Ajaero and other workers.
The labour leaders also demanded an immediate, independent and unbiased thorough professional medical examination of Ajaero in light of the physical and psychological injuries inflicted on him.
They also resolved that other workers and journalists subjected to the alleged inhuman treatment by the police and Hope Uzodimma’s goons be treated by the state and all the properties lost be replaced immediately.
They equally demanded immediate implementation of all the outstanding industrial relations issues as previously agreed with the Imo State government.
The labour leaders said, “We are worried that it has become criminal for workers in Nigeria to gather for a peaceful protest when Section 40 of the Nigerian Constitution and the International Conventions like the Universal Declaration on Human Rights guarantees the rights to Freedom of Association and the right to bargain collectively. It is more absurd that these infractions will even happen at all and still continues to happen especially when Nigeria seats as the chairman of the governing board of the ILO.
“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”.
