In a solidarity move to protest the brutality of the President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, the Organised Labour, comprising its leadership and that of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), have declared a total nationwide strike effective next Tuesday, November 14, 2023.
The leadership of the two unions reached the resolution after an extraordinary National Executive Council meeting yesterday in Abuja.
The two major labour unions said nationwide mobilisation of members and allies have begun immediately.
The action by the Organised Labour followed the brutalisation of NLC National President, Joe Ajaero, last week in Imo State.
There had been widespread outrage by the Organised Labour, accusing the Commissioner of Police in Imo State, Mohammed Barde, of complicity in the recent attack on Ajaero, in Owerri, the Imo State capital.
Last Friday, it handed the Federal Government a five-day ultimatum to replace the police commissioner, while also blaming Governor Hope Uzodimma, who is seeking re-election, of the attack on Ajaero; though the governor had since said he had no hand in the attack on the labour leader.
The Organised Labour also demanded the arrest and prosecution of some of the governor’s aides, and threatened to embark on a nationwide industrial action if their demands were not carried out.
Already, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, on Sunday, redeployed Barde for “neutrality’s sake” ahead of the November 11, 2023 governorship election in Imo State.
The attack on the labour leader has been condemned by many prominent Nigerians and civil society organisations, including the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, and human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN).
