Imo planned strike hits deadlock, as violent mob attacks NLC President, Labour leaders
…Attack on President, an attempted murder — NLC
…We did not arrest NLC President but shielded him from life endangering attack — Imo Police
…As NUPENG threatens nationwide strike
The planned strike by the Organized Labour in Imo State has hit a deadlock as a violent mob attacked the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Mr Joe Ajaero and other labour leaders leaving them injured.
The Union had planned to stage a strike on Thursday over a backlog of unpaid salaries and allowances among other perceived sins of the Imo State government against workers in the State.
The Union is protesting to kick against some acts of the Imo State government which includes: refusal to implement previous agreements, outstanding salary arrears, unjust declaration of workers as ghost workers, destruction of NLC state secretariat, implementation of discriminatory pay and unpaid gratuity arrears.
Others are non-compliance with the National Minimum Wage, intimidation and harassment of trade union leaders, use of violence and thuggery, misappropriation of union dues, declaration of pensioners as ghosts, systematic harassment and intimidation of the workforce, resistance to social dialogue and collective bargaining, interference with workers’ democratic processes.
Ajaero and other leaders of NLC and their Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, among others including some journalists were attacked and brutalized by suspected agents of the state at the NLC secretariat in Owerri ahead of the strike today.
However, with the current tide of events, it appears highly probable if the Union will proceed with the planned strike action.
Reacting, the NLC Head of Information and Publicity, Comrade Benson Upah, described what happened to Ajaero as an act of abduction that degenerated into attempted murder.
He said that “Contact has been made with Congress President, Comrade Joe Ajaero this evening around 15:30 hours at the Police Hospital in Owerri from where he was taken to Federal Medical Centre, Owerri where he is receiving medical attention.”
“Thoroughly brutalised, his right eye at the time of contact was completely shut.”
He further said, “Ajaero, who said little, stated that immediately after his arrest, he was beaten up and blindfolded and taken to an unknown destination where more brutalisation took place, sometimes with bottles.
“His phones, money and other personal effects were taken off him and haveot been returned to him.”
…We did not arrest NLC President but shielded him from life endangering attacks — Imo Police
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Police Force has denied claims of being complicit in the attacks on the NLC President noting that the Force did not arrest the NLC President as alleged but instead protected him from a violent mob.
The Imo state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Henry Okoye, said: “The Imo State Police Command wishes to clarify some sketchy reports alleging the arrest of the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Joe Ajaero, in Owerri.
“It is pertinent to state that the NLC President was in Owerri as part of arrangements of the Congress to mobilize workers for a mega protest rally in the state.
“In the course of their planning, it was reported that suggestions arose for the lockdown of some essential facilities particularly the airport which led to some workers and other individuals resisting the picketing process leading to scuffles, heated arguments and an eventual attack on the person of the president by a mob.
“Upon receiving this report, the Imo Police Command swiftly deployed police operatives to the scene where the Officer in Charge exercised his operational discretion by taking the NLC President into protective custody at the State Command Headquarters to ensure the protection of his life and that he was not lynched in the scuffle that followed.
“The Commissioner of Police thereafter directed that he should be taken to the Police Medical Services, Owerri, where he would be accorded medical attention as a result of the attack. He has therefore been accorded adequate security cover to proceed on his other legitimate engagements for the day.
“It is however necessary to emphasise the existence of a court injunction from the National Industrial Court of Nigeria held in Owerri with Suit No. NICN/OW/41/2023 dated 27th October 2023, barring the NLC from holding the intended protest rally in Owerri.
“The Commissioner of Police, Imo State Police Command, CP Mohammed Ahmed Barde, psc (+), therefore urges all concerned parties to ensure compliance with the Court directives to avoid jeopardizing the current security arrangements on Owerri and other parts of Imo State, even as the State gears up for the forthcoming electioneering process on 11th November 2023,” the PPRO explained.
…NUPENG threatens nationwide strike
The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has threatened to embark on a nationwide strike following the attack on Ajaero and other labour leaders.
NUPENG fingered the state government to be behind the attacks, indicating that the State had engaged the services of perceived agents to spearhead the attacks.
Speaking on the development, NUPENG’s President, Prince Williams Akporeha, said, “We condemn with the strongest term the arrest and brutalisation of Congress President, Comrade Joe Ajaero and other labour leaders by the agents of Imo State Government.
“We reject the act of violence and barbarism being unleashed on labour leaders, workers and others. We cannot accept this uncivilised behaviour in a democracy.
“The workers of Imo State must be freed. We are determined to free the state workers because injury to one is to all.”
…Falana questions Police complicity in attack
Senior Advocate of Nigeria and Human Rights Activist, Femi Falana, SAN, has faulted the involvement of the Imo State Police Command in the attack on the NLC President.
Falana in a statement identified that there are loopholes in the narration of the incident by the Police.
Falana said, “The police version of the brutalisation of the NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajero is full of loopholes. As soon as Comrade Ajero showed up at the venue of the rally, he was surrounded by a team of police personnel led by the Commissioner of Police of Imo State.
“Why did the police allow Comrade Ajero to be brutalised by the so-called miscreants? In other words, why did the police not protect him from the violent attack?
“By the way, why did the police officers not arrest the miscreants who brutalised the NLC President in their presence?
“So the police who witnessed the attack without making any arrest suddenly turned round to take the victim to the police clinic. The members of the public who decried the barbaric attack took pictures which exposed the misleading version of the police.
“It is disturbing that the police justified the action of the so-called miscreants by saying that Comrade Ajero has disobeyed the order of a court. Why did the police not allow the court to purge Comrade Ajero of contempt of court?
“We call on the Inspector-General of Police, Dr Kayode Egbetokun, to investigate and ensure that the police officers who brutalised the NLC President are prosecuted without any delay.”
