In the wake of a recent assault on Joe Ajaero, the National President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), both the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have called for an extraordinary National Executive Council meeting.
The primary objectives of this meeting are to reassess the planned strike and evaluate the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between the Federal Government and Organised Labour on October 2, 2023, subsequent to the removal of the subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
Tommy Etim, the National Vice-President of the TUC, disclosed these union plans during an interview on November 7, in the afternoon.
Etim stated, “We will be holding an extraordinary NEC meeting very soon. The matters under consideration encompass the treatment of comrade Ajaero, the impending strike, and the MOU inked with the Federal Government. Further details will be unveiled following the meeting.”
Important Information:
Earlier, the labour unions had issued a five-day ultimatum to the government after Joe Ajaero’s arrest by the police in Owerri, Imo State, on November 7, 2023.
The unions demanded the immediate reassignment of the state’s commissioner of police and the arrest and prosecution of the government aide allegedly involved in the attack.
In the event that these demands are not met within the stipulated timeframe, the labor unions have threatened to initiate a nationwide industrial action.
Pulseย had previously reported that the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, has acceded to the NLC’s pressure by directing the reassignment of the Commissioner of Police in Imo state, CP Mohammed Barde, to special duties at the Force Headquarters.
Joe Ajaero suffered a brutal assault during a state-wide protest in Imo the previous week, provoking widespread outrage and condemnation from various quarters.