Ajaero: Our Demands From Imo Government, IGP, By NLC, TUC

By Gideon Njoku

Following the face-off in Owerri between the Organised Labour and the Imo State Police Command which led to the brutalisation of the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Joe Ajaero, and some others, the NLC and the Trade Union Congress, TUC, have issued a six-point demand to the Imo State Government and the Inspector General of Police for peace to reign.

The Organized Labour wants the demands met before November 8, 2023, or it would embark on an indefinite strike action.

Trouble started on November, 1, 2023, when Ajaero and other Labour Leaders stormed Owerri to organise a protest against the State Government over alleged sundry issues, including, none payment of salaries, an allegation, among others, which the State Government strongly denies,  insisting it was not owing salaries to any legal worker. Meaning that only ghost and fraudulent workers would complain.

However, while the Leaders of the NLC were at the State Secretariat, putting finishing touches to the modalities of the protest,  they were pounced upon, allegedly, by the Police. Ajaero, in particular, was badly manhandled, resulting in his being rushed to two hospitals – Police Hospital and the Federal Medical Centre, FMC – over the severe injuries he sustained, especially, in the eye and head areas.

The State Government vehemently denies a hand in Ajaero’s ordeal, and so does the Imo State Police Command which said its men, contrary to reports, neither arrested Ajaero nor detained him. Instead, it claimed in a Press Statement, its men took Ajaero into protective custody, and saved him from being lynched by a mob. The Command did not say who and who made up the mob, or why nobody was arrested on the spot.

The NLC and the TUC insist that both the State Government and the Police Command were responsible for the brutalization of their leaders, and have served a six-point demand on the Imo State Government and the Inspector General of Police. They want positive action taken on their demands or be faced with industrial action with effect from November 8, 2023.

For the records, the Governorship Election in Imo State, like that of Kogi and Bayelsa States, is scheduled for November 11, 2023. Any industrial action, therefore, could affect the Imo election.

Following are the six demands.

■Investigation and deployment out of Imo State the Commissioner of Police Mr. Ahmed Barde for his unprofessional conduct

■Sack of the Area Commander and his men who supervised the beating and brutalisation of the NLC President

■Arrest and prosecution of SA Special Duties in Imo State, Mr. Nwaneri Chinasa

Immediate.

■Independent and thorough medical and professional examination of the NLC president as a result of physical injuries inflicted on him.

■Medical treatment of journalists and other workers who were maltreated and in the course of doing their jobs at the NLC secretariat in Imo State and all properties stolen or damaged be restored.

■ Implementation of all outstanding industrial relations issues previously agreed with the Imo State Government.

The Organized Labour, also, added:

“We further resolved that in the event that the State Government fails to comply with any of the stated demands, NLC, TUC and other affiliate members will no longer guarantee industrial peace in Nigeria, beginning November, 8th, 2023”