By Nicholas Ojo
Abuja (Sundiata Post) – The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have declared a total nationwide strike in Nigeria.
The planned strike will take effect next Tuesday, November 14, 2023.
The leadership of the two unions agreed to go on strike in an extraordinary National Executive Council meeting held on Tuesday in Abuja. https://sundiatapost.com/labour-declares-nationwide-strike-nov-8-over-assault-on-nlc-president-ajaero/
At the meeting, the unions reviewed the modalities of the planned strike following the brutalisation of the NLC National President, Joe Ajaero by the police in Imo State last week.
Following the assault, the NLC and TUC issued a notice to embark on a nationwide strike over the ill-treatment of Ajaero during a workers’ protest in Imo.
The notice was issued last Friday at a press conference by leaders of the NLC and TUC, asking the President Bola Tinubu-led government to immediately remove the police commissioner in the state and the Area Commander, among other officials, for their alleged complicity in the humiliation of Ajaero and other workers.
Some police personnel had arrested Ajaero while organising a rally to protest against stalled wage payments for workers in the state. https://sundiatapost.com/nlc-president-ajaero-to-be-flown-abroad-for-medical-care/
But reacting to the incident, Governor Hope Uzodimma, who is facing reelection on November 11, claimed that the NLC President was attacked because he was meddling in the state’s politics.
Uzodimma who spoke to journalists after receiving the All Progressives Congress’ flag from Tinubu at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja, said he stopped the NLC’s national leadership from dissolving the Imo State chapter of the congress.
The attack, brutalisation, and battering of Ajaero prompted widespread condemnation.
Meanwhile, the Imo State police commissioner, Mohammed Ahmed Barde, has been redeployed to the Police Force Headquarters in Abuja.
His redeployment on Sunday comes a few hours after the Labour Party governorship candidate in the November 11 election, Senator Athan Achonu, called on President Tinubu to order the redeployment of security agents in the state.
He accused them of working for Governor Uzodimma and alleged that the police shot at his convoy on Sunday after denying him access to a church service he was invited for.
