The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has said that the strike action it embarked upon to protest the recent brutalisation of its President, Joe Ajaero, as well as neglect of workers’ welfare in Imo would be called off if six conditions are met.
The labour union stated the conditions in a post on Facebook on Tuesday, the first day of the strike.
Recall that NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC)’s National Executive Council meeting in Abuja on Monday, November 13, resolved to embark on the strike.
A circular dated November 13, 2023, issued by the Nigeria Civil Service Union to all its state/federal councils highlighted the reasons for the strike.
The circular signed by the union’s General Secretary, Comrade Bomoi M. Ibraheem, said, “This directive is sequel to joint NEC meeting of NLC & TUC which took place on Tuesday 7th November, 2023, as a result of outstanding welfare of Imo State workers and pensioners as well as brutalisation, molestation and outright inhuman treatment meted on the NLC National President Com. Joe Ajaero by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma sponsored hoodlums that perpetrated the evil act.”
In a post titled “Truth Be Told”, the NLC said that the “brutalisation and deadly attack” on its president and other workers in Imo State is not a local issue but a national matter because “the national police were involved”.
In another post titled, “Our Demands”, the NLC said its first demand is the arrest and prosecution of Mr. Chinasa Nwaneri, the Special Adviser on Special Duties to the Imo State Governor, “the deadly gang leader of Hope Uzodimma thugs. He led the attack against workers on that day.”
Secondly, the union demanded the arrest and prosecution of all policemen involved in the brutalisation of the NLC President and workers in Imo State.
The third demand is the arrest and prosecution of all thugs that attacked the NLC President in Imo State.
The union is equally demanding the arrest, prosecution and dismissal of the Chief Security Officer, Imo State Government House, SP Shaba. The NLC said he led, participated and provided cover for thugs to brutalise workers in Imo State.
The fifth demand is the arrest, prosecution and dismissal of the Police Area Commander that led the brutalisation of NLC President and other workers in Imo State.
The sixth demand is the investigation and prosecution of the former Imo State Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmed Barde.