NLC President Arrested in Imo State

NLC President has been arrested in Imo State, southeast Nigeria.

Newsone reports that the President of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Joe Ajaero has been whisked away by the Police at the ongoing protest in Imo state.

This online news platform understands that the NLC President’s arrest came at a time when miscreants descended on protesters, smashing vehicles and inflicting wounds on labour members. The NLC President’s whereabouts is unknown as heavily armed security personnel took him away.

Newsone Nigeria recalls that NLC said on Sunday, October 29, 2023, that it would begin protests in Imo State from November 1 over alleged violation and abuse of rights and privileges of workers by the State government.

The NLC President 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.