The President of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Joe Ajaero has been arrested by the Police at the ongoing protest in Owerri, Imo state.
The whereabouts of Ajaero have not been known as heavily armed security personnel took him away.
The NLC’s Head of Information and Publicity, Benson Upah confirmed itt, saying the Police have arrested Ajaero.
He said: “The NLC President was abducted by men suspected to be Policemen armed to their teeth at the Imo state NLC secretariat on Wednesday as we were about to commence our lawful protest against the violation of trade union rights of the workers”.
The development follows an ongoing protest in Imo state , according to reports miscreants have descended on protesters, smashing vehicles and inflicting wounds on labour members.
Recall that the union on Sunday, disclosed that it would begin protests in Imo State from Nov. 1. over alleged violation and abuse of rights and privileges of workers by the State government.
Ajaero said that “NLC was deeply concerned about the persistent and egregious violations of the rights and privileges of workers in Imo State by the State Government.”
“Despite our repeated efforts to engage in constructive dialogue and reach amicable agreements, the Imo State Government has become a habitual and serial breaker of these agreements, continuing to trample on the rights of workers in the state.
“As a result, we are left with no choice but to embark on mass protests and industrial actions beginning on the 1st day of November, 2023.
“This is to demonstrate our outrage and stop the continuing violation of the rights and privileges of workers in the state,”
The NLC president added that the protest was imperative as the government of the state had refused to implement previous agreements.
According to Ajaero, the government has repeatedly reneged on agreements, most notably the accord reached on January 9th, 2021, between the Government and Organised Labour.
“On outstanding salary arrears, shockingly, some workers have been subjected to a staggering 20 months of unpaid salaries under the unfounded label of ‘ghost workers’.
“Unjust declaration of workers as ghost workers,. Approximately 11,000 hardworking individuals have been unjustly branded as ghost workers, their salaries diverted even while they diligently carried out their duties,” he said.
