Breaking: NLC, TUC Announce Date for Nationwide Indefinite Strike, Demand Immediate Removal of Imo State Commissioner of Police

The Nigeria Labour Congress NLC and Trade Union Congress have given an ultimatum to embark on a nationwide industrial action.

The Union made this known at a press conference on Saturday, 3rd November, 2023.

Recall that NLC accused the Imo State government of continuing to use what it described as ‘the instrument of violence and intimidation’ against trade unions and their leadership in the state, adding that they had only asked the governor to pay the salaries owed to the state workers.

In a statement titled, ”The President of Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Joe Ajaero has been abducted by Hope Uzodimma and the Imo State Police Commissioner’ signed by the joint Unions’ Secretaries, Emmanuel Ugboaja (NLC) and Nuhu Toro (TUC) and made available to PUNCH Online on Wednesday, they frowned at the detention of Ajaero stressing the need for President Bola Tinubu’s intervention.

The statement partly read, “Just as Nigerian workers gathered earlier this morning led by the leadership of the two Labour centers to demonstrate our outrage over the serial and habitual abuse and violation of the rights of workers in the state, the government unleashed blood-curdling mayhem on the workers.

“Earlier in the morning, policemen had tried to disperse workers who were gathering at the state NLC secretariat without success. This was followed in the usual manner by ‘thugs’ who were stationed very close to the Secretariat in several Hilux and Toyota trucks.

“These ‘thugs’ were later to unleash mayhem on the few workers who had already gathered, smashing car windscreens, delivering matchet cuts on some, stabbing many, and inflicting all manners of injuries on the workers. GSM handsets were snatched, Laptops taken away, and money was forcefully taken away by the hoodlums.

“As if that damage was not enough, the President of the NLC, Comrade Joe Ajaero, arrived at the venue accompanied by a few individual workers to inspect the carnage and to provide the necessary leadership for the trade union action to continue, only to be met by Policemen of the Imo State Police Command who came in their numbers and in several trucks.”

Consequently, the NLC and TUC have announced Wednesday, 8th of November, 2023 as the kickoff day of the nationwide strike.