- NSA apologises, “regrets the incident and condemns it in its entirety as it was against the rule of law and the principles of freedom of association and expression”
The Organised Labour, under the umbrella of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) on Wednesday met with the National Security Adviser (NSA< Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and other federal government officials over the nationwide strike to protest the brutalisation of the NLC President Joe Ajaero in Imo State by Policemen and suspected thugs and other State government agents.
At the meeting, the labour leaders received several appeals and assurances from the NSA on promises of what they are going to do regarding the attack on NLC President, Joe Ajaero and other demands.
The NLC and TUC had began an indefinite nationwide strike on Tuesday to protest the arrest and brutalisation of NLC President in Owerri, Imo State on November 1, 2023.
President of TUC, Festus Osifo who spoke on behalf of Labour after the meeting with the federal government delegation said however that they will take every discussion and conversation they have had with the government, back to the organs of labour and inform them before a decision can be taken on whether the strike should be called off or not.
According to the TUC leader: “We came here for a discussion. The NSA invited us in furtherance of a press release he issued disclosing that some persons have been arrested in connection with the brutality meted out to the NLC President. At the end of the day, he made several promises of what they were going to do and several appeals for the strike to be called off.
“We had a robust conversation and we told him our side of the issue. The strike was caused by something and the strike is a symptom of the problem. Every conversation we have had, we are taking it back to our organs.
“The NSA promised to coordinate all the steps and issues involved. We will go back, and reappraise the conversations we have had, with all the assurances they have given us, before coming out with a decision.”
On his part, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Mr Simon Lalong disclosed that labour and government representatives had very fruitful, genuine and frank discussions of the issues involved.
“It is an ongoing discussion. We have not received any commitment on when the strike will be called off. We have appealed to them. We don’t expect the strike to take a long time.”
Meanwhile, the national leadership of NLC on Wednesday listed six conditions that must be met before suspending the action.
NLC, in a post on its official X handle, said the conditions include the arrest and prosecution of Chinasa Nwaneri, a Special Adviser to the Imo Governor on Special Duties who allegedly led the attack on the NLC President and other workers in the State.
It also said all Police officers as well as thugs involved in the attack on the labour leader should be arrested, prosecuted and dismissed.
Other demands include the arrest, prosecution and dismissal of the Chief Security Officer in Imo State Government House, simply identified as SP Shaba.
“He led, participated and provided cover for thugs to brutalise workers in Imo State,” the NLC alleged.
The labour union also demanded the arrest, prosecution, and dismissal of an unnamed Police Area Commander who, it claimed, oversaw the brutalization of the NLC President and other workers in the State.
The final condition is that Ahmed Barde, the former Commissioner of Police in Imo State, be investigated and prosecuted for his alleged involvement in the assault on the NLC chief.
“Our demands are simple. We want justice,” the union demanded.
Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Bako Lalong, and the Minister of State for Employment, Nkeiruka Onyeajeocha, were in attendance at the meeting held at the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
Also, in attendance were labour leaders led by TUC President, Festus Osifo, NLC Secretary General, Emmanuel Ugboaja, and other Labour leaders.
Just before the meeting with labour leaders, Ribadu apologised to Organised Labour over the attack on NLC President,, urging them to rescind its decisions on the ongoing strike.
In a statement by Head of Strategic Communications in the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Zakari U Mijinyawa, attackers of Ajaero have been arrested and investigations had commenced.
Stating that the federal government regrets the incident that happened in Imo and condemns it in its entirety, Ribadu noted that it was against the rule of law and the principles of freedom of association and expression subscribed to by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his administration.
According to the statement: “The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) is concerned by the declaration of a nationwide strike by the leadership of the Organised Labour led by the NLC and TUC.
“The NSA is particularly worried about the implications of the strike action on the livelihood of ordinary Nigerians and its potential impact on economic security and other strategic national interests.
“As attested by the NLC leadership, the NSA immediately intervened on learning about the travails of the President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joseph Ajero who was assaulted in Owerri, Imo State.
“The NSA regrets the incident and condemns it in its entirety as it was against the rule of law and the principles of freedom of association and expression subscribed to by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his administration.
“The Federal Government will never condone such an act.
“As a fallout of the incident relevant authorities were directed to conduct thorough investigation into the circumstances sorrounding the assault and bring to book the culprits. Available update indicates that some arrests have already been made in this regard. The outcome of the investigation will be made public as soon as it is concluded.
“The Federal Government, through the Office of the NSA, therefore, appeals to the labour leadership to call off the current strike action and allow the dialogue process underway to be exhausted.”