Osifo Tackles Oshiomhole over Comments on Nationwide Strike

The President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Festus Osifo, on Wednesday, took a swipe at a former President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Adams Oshiomhole, for criticising the ongoing industrial action by the Organised Labour over an attack on the present NLC leader, Joe Ajaero.

Osifo, who spoke on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on Wednesday, said Ajaero was not in Imo State for political purpose when he was assaulted on November 1, 2023.

Oshiomhole, now a Senator from Edo North Senatorial District, served as NLC leader from 1999 to 2007 before he went on to be Edo State governor for eight years.

On Tuesday, Oshiomhole visited the Aso Villa in Abuja and inferred that labour’s moves in Imo was political.

However, Osifo said that was not true, adding that the former NLC leader gave his opinion based on the information he was provided at the Villa.

The TUC leader said the organ of NLC made up of over 300 individuals called for the action in Imo to protest the alleged anti-labour policies of Governor Hope Uzodimma’s government.

“What Ajaero went to do in Owerri was not political,” Osifo said.

“Our senior comrade, Adams Oshiomhole, you know, you give an opinion, based on the information that you have, Today, he is a Senator, he is busy with national politics. I think he does not have sufficient information.

“Maybe, after now, we will give him as much information as possible once he reaches out because he went to the Villa to meet with them (government officials). So, that is the information they gave to him.”

“Has he spoken with Joe Ajaero? Has he spoken with the senior labour leaders in the country to also have their opinions on what this subject is? We must always balance opinions.”

Osifo also said the unions had not been served any court order to stop the strike.

“Our senior comrade (Oshiomhole) that spoke earlier when he was leading us in the Labour Movement, he referred to such orders as black market injunctions but first of all, we were not served.

“As we speak today, we don’t have service of any court order. If you procure a court order, even if you procure it at midnight, you need to serve it on the party and I will tell you that we don’t have it. They should bring proof of service on the TUC and the NLC.”