Work resumes fully across the country as the leadership of Organised Labour on Wednesday night suspended its nationwide indefinite strike which began on Tuesday, November 14, 2023, to protest the attack on the President of Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero.
The decision to suspend the strike comes in the wake of the intervention by the Federal Government through the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.
Speaking after the meeting, the National Deputy Vice-President of the TUC, Tommy Etim, said: “The NEC of the NLC and the TUC have suspended the strike.
“We did this based on our trust for the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, who gave us his words.”
Ajaero, in company with other labour leaders had on November 1 stormed Owerri, Imo State capital to lead a rally in protest against the State government over alleged violation of rights of workers in the State.
But before the rally started properly, the labour leader was arrested by the Police and beaten by the political thugs allegedly attached to the Governor of the State, Hope Uzodinma.
The development drew the anger of the labour movement whom, among other demands, requested that the Area Commander that led the attack be sacked from the Police Force and be prosecuted.
Both NLC and TUC subsequently declared a nationwide strike – the development that crippled commercial activities across the country.
Daily Trust reports that Ribadu later intervened in the nationwide action of the organised labour, disclosing that two suspects in connection with Ajaero’s attack have been arrested.
Our correspondent reliably gathered from top sources at Labour House, Abuja that the labour leaders at their extra-ordinary National Executive Council (NEC) meeting resolved to take into consideration all the promises made by the NSA.
“We’ve just finished extra-ordinary NEC meeting. We have considered all the appeals made to us by the NSA during our meeting in his office in the afternoon. We shall give him time to coordinate the investigations as promised,” one of the labour leaders stated.
The General Secretary of Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employee (AUPCTRE), Comrade Sikiru Waheed, also confirmed the development to journalists.
He said, “Arising from the just-concluded joint NEC session of NLC and TUC to give consideration to the plea of Federal Government at a meeting held today at the office of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, the meeting resolved that the ongoing national strike is hereby suspended.
“The labour movement appreciates you all for your commitments towards the success of the industrial action. You are hereby directed to resume your official functions from tomorrow Thursday 16th November, 2023. Thank you.”
The NSA had earlier begged the movement to rescind its decisions on the current development, while condemning the attack on the labour leaders in Owerri during their protest.
The President of TUC, Festus Osifo, who led other labour leaders to the NSA’s office, said the conversations they had with the federal government officials would be taken to their respective organs and they would communicate accordingly.