Nigeria Labour Congress President Joe Ajaero Arrested Amid Imo State Strike Tensions.
Tensions escalated in Imo State as operatives of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) allegedly arrested the National President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, in Owerri, the state’s capital. Ajaero was reportedly taken into custody at the state secretariat of the congress and transported to an undisclosed location.
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The Head of Information for the NLC, Benson Upah, confirmed the arrest, expressing concern over the development. Upah conveyed this information via a text message to PUNCH, emphasizing that Ajaero was apprehended by heavily armed policemen.
This incident occurred as the NLC had previously announced plans to mobilize its members for a total strike in Imo State starting on November 1, 2023.
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During a press briefing on Sunday, Ajaero had accused the Imo State Government of violating the rights of Nigerian workers in the state. He pointed to alleged neglect of workers’ welfare and the non-payment of salaries, which, according to him, had resulted in the unfortunate deaths of some workers.
Ajaero further outlined a series of grievances against the Imo State Government, including the failure to implement previous agreements, outstanding salary arrears of approximately 20 months, unjust declarations of workers and pensioners as ghost workers, and unsettled gratuity arrears.
One of the most concerning aspects of these allegations is that approximately 10,000 pensioners have been wrongly labeled as ghost pensioners, enduring over 22 months of unpaid pensions. Furthermore, about 11,000 workers have been accused by the Imo State Government of being ghost workers.
The NLC president also raised concerns about the state government’s non-compliance with the national minimum wage, highlighting the government’s resistance to social dialogue and collective bargaining to resolve these pressing issues.
The arrest of Joe Ajaero amid the already tense labor strike situation in Imo State has further heightened concerns and calls for a peaceful and constructive resolution to the ongoing labor disputes. As the situation unfolds, both labor unions and the state government will need to engage in dialogue to address the grievances and concerns of workers in Imo State.
