The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) have issued a joint threat to disrupt economic activities nationwide starting on November 14. This action comes in response to the abduction and assault of NLC President, Joe Ajaero, last week.
The labor unions have also called for the immediate withdrawal of services and a shutdown of Imo State, commencing at midnight today. They have instructed workers and affiliates to comply and ordered the halt of all flights to and from Imo State, as well as fuel and electricity supplies.
Deputy President of NLC, Adewale Adeyanju, and TUC President, Festus Osifo, made this announcement during a joint National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja. The unions have previously made demands to the government that have not been met.
In addition to the action in Imo State, the unions have warned that if their demands are not met, workers nationwide will withdraw their services by midnight on Tuesday, November 14.
The unions raised concerns about the abduction of Joe Ajaero and violence against him and other workers in the NLC Imo State secretariat. They alleged that these acts were carried out with the support of the Imo State government and the governor, in collaboration with the Nigeria Police.
The decision to embark on an industrial action in Imo was in line with a prior resolution, as the government has repeatedly failed to honor agreements, including the accord reached on January 9, 2021, between the government and organized labor. The unions also pointed out salary arrears and the unjust labeling of some workers as ‘ghost workers,’ leaving them unpaid for 20 months.
