By Charles Igbo

For the second time within a couple of months, the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, has shut down Imo State.

The Union, after an Emergency Joint Central Working Committee Meeting with the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, held on Monday, May 1, decided to shut the State. It called out workers on a strike action against the Imo State Government. It said its action followed what it called “an unprovoked assault on Imo State workers.” who had assembled to celebrate Workers Day.

Since the aborted Imo State NLC Congress, during which the Union alleged that the Government was interfering in its Election by wanting to impose the State NLC Chairman, for which the Union embarked on a strike action, nothing has been the same in the Imo Chapter.

At the time,  NLC said that  Government thugs invaded the venue of the Congress, beat up Workers and destroyed the Union’s properties, an allegation the Government denied and put the  blame on the National President of the NLC, Comrade Joe Ajaero, who, incidentally is from the State.

The strike action led to the sack of the Commissioner for Labour, Chief Ford Ozumba. It also resulted in the setting up, by the NLC, of a caretaker Committee for the State. But it is a Committee which the State Government does not recognise, and insists on dealing with the faction of the Chairman it, allegedly, wanted to impose on the Union. It took the intervention of a number of people within and outside  the State for the NLC to call off the Strike.

On 1st May, both factions celebrated Workers Day separately, with the State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma, present at that of the faction his Government recognises.

The faction recognised by the National body of the NLC held its own at the State NLC Headquarters in Owerri. But, midway,  the venue was invaded by thugs, workers beaten and tables and chairs destroyed.

However, no mention was made by the Government of the incident while thanking the Workers and Pensioners for not only giving the Governor a plaque in appreciation of his very good relationship with them, but endorsed him for a second term in office.

Government’s Statement

In the statement signed by Oguwike Nwachuku, Media Adviser/ Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, the Government said in part:

“The Organised Labour in Imo State on Monday said it is time to pay Governor Hope Uzodimma back for his good relationship with the workers under his watch, particularly as regards their welfare, adopting him as their candidate for the governorship election come November 11, 2023.

“To further show that they have not had it so good in terms of the workers welfare in Imo State until now, the  Organised Labour comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress, the Trade Union Congress and the State Joint Public Service Negotiating Council also debunked the comments credited to the National President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero and his TUC colleague, Festus Osifo during Workers Day celebration on Monday in Abuja, that workers in Imo State have been laid off and that their salaries have remained unpaid.

“The theme of the 2023 Workers Day Celebration was: “Workers Right and Social Economic Justice.”

“In dissecting the theme, the Organised Labour acknowledged that Imo workers are the most beneficiaries of the 3R government of Governor Uzodimma.

“The Chairman of the State Public Service Negotiating Council in Imo State, Comrade Basil Iwu told a gathering of both labour leaders and workers at the Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu Square, venue of the 2023 Imo Workers Celebration Day, in his address that  contrary to Ajaero’s claims, “government has not sacked any worker,” rather, “the Governor has even directed that salaries of workers not verified be paid.”

“Comrade Ajaero had claimed that 11,000 workers in Imo State were sacked as well as non- payment of salaries .

“Iwu regretted that Ajaero was using his position as NLC President to mislead the public on the true position of government/labour relations as well as the state of welfare of workers in Imo State and called on the public to be wary of such comments.

“Iwu listed a catalogue of things the workers in Imo State have enjoyed under Governor Uzodimma to include: prompt payment of salaries/ pension to verified workers/ pensioners, provision of free transportation buses for Imo workers to and fro office, massive renovation of the State Secretariat, construction of good/quality and durable roads in Imo and restoration of peace/order in Imo State.

“Others include: promotion of stagnated workers in Imo Civil Service, approval of 65 years and 40 years of Service for Imo teachers, approval of one percent check-off dues to Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) and also commencement of the payment of gratuities to our retired pensioners in Imo State, provision of official vehicles to Permanent Secretaries in various ministries in Imo State, approval of payment of salary for uncaptured workers/ pensioners, appointment of a Special Adviser on Labour Matters as a way of creating faster channel of communication between workers and the government, payment of 13 percent salary to workers, the first time since the creation of Imo State, among many others.

“In appreciation of all these, the Imo workers through the Leadership of Organized Labour said: “On behalf of Imo State workers, we adopt His Excellency, Dist. Senator Hope Uzodimma as our Candidate for the forthcoming Imo State Gubernatorial election in Imo State.”

“However,  Iwu pleaded with the Governor to direct full implementation of the payment of consequential adjustment arising from the nationally approved N30,000 minimum wage as well as to direct compliance on the payment of the three percent check off dues to industrial unions in Imo State.

“To the surprise of Governor Uzodimma, plaques were presented to him by a group of Imo pensioners and members of the Joint Public Service Council who corroborated what Iwu said earlier regarding the prompt payment of salary of verified pensioners in Imo State.

“The Pensioners were particularly grateful that Governor Uzodimma had moved to pay them their gratuities and felt they needed to encourage him with a token in appreciation of his love, concern and benevolence to them since he assumed office.

“In his response, Governor Uzodimma said he is very familiar with the import of the Workers Day and that his administration, from day one, took a decision not to play with the welfare of the workers in Imo State.

“He said despite all odds, including lean resources and spate of contrived insecurity affecting the desired stability of Imo State, his administration has made it a point of duty to implement all that Iwu listed earlier and that he will not relent in his efforts to ensure that before he leaves office, Imo workers will be the envy of other workers in the country.

“Accepting the endorsement, Governor Uzodimma described it as a surprise.

“He said it is “the Mother of all endorsements,” noting that “to whom much is giving much is expected.”

“The Governor who gave a graphic relationship of his administration with workers since 2020, informed that he runs a transparent government and has never failed to celebrate the Workers Day with Imo workers since he assumed office, an indication of the importance he attaches to them as “partners, colleagues, friends, brothers and sisters.”

“He maintained that he has tried to make the welfare of workers a priority and enjoined workers to also bear in mind that the employer is entitled to greater productivity.

“He recalled that “on assumption of office there were no available data on Imo workers to work with hence there were initial inconveniences.”

“He apologised to them over the inconveniences that arose trying to establish a data and asked the workers to think back and judge the situation they were into before and now.

“The Governor enjoined Imo workers to “refrain from any external interference meant to create and cause disharmony between Government and workers in Imo State,” emphasizing that his government “does not have records of sack of Civil Servants, Non-payment of workers and or Pensioners or declaring of verified workers as ghost workers.”

“He maintained that no past administration has given Imo workers more attention than his administration and that “the claims of people out there are false and untrue,” and that whatever efforts his administration had made in the last three years was to be sure of what to do and how to do it well.

“He bemoaned that some third forces are trying to cause crisis through the State to truncate the May 29 inauguration and warned that Imo State cannot be used for such.

“The Governor who reaffirmed that “one with God is in the majority” told the workers that under his watch “no evil man will become Governor again in Imo State.”

“He promised to drive government in a manner that government must create prosperity for the benefit of the common man, including the workers.

“He announced that he had approved the payment of check-off dues to Labour Unions and had commenced the processes leading to the payment of gratuities to retried Pensioners.”

“He assured the workers that their expectations under his administration will not be disappointed, saying he is for them, noting that they should bear in mind that where they work is where they will eat.

“On  the perceived running battle between the NLC at the National and State NLC, the Governor said that he has no hands in the election of NLC in Imo State and that as a Governor he cannot be confused or distracted, hence under his administration Industrial synergy in Imo State is impeccable.

Concluding, he assured the workers who turned out in their numbers that “as soon as the revenue base of the State improves workers of the State will get higher pay and reviewed salaries.”

“He proceeded to  announce that in the next few days the Health Insurance Scheme will be launched to accommodate all sorts of ailments threatening the workers.

“He said the scheme costs his government over N80 million monthly and enjoined the workers not to be afraid because “every good thing comes with initial difficulties.”

NLC & TUC Working Committee orders strike, says its prepared for a marathon struggle

But in a communique after the CWC meeting, signed by Comrade Emmanuel  Ugboaja, General Secretary, NLC, and Comrade Nuhu Toro, Secretary General  TUC, the CWC said:

” The joint CWC-in- session of the NLC and TUC after careful deliberation on the violent disruption of Workers May Day Celebrations earlier today in Owerri by the agents of Imo State Government strongly and overwhelmingly condemn the unprovoked assault on Imo State workers. The TUC and NLC thus reached the following conclusions:

“1. That the Government of Imo State has grossly violated the rules of engagement among the Social partners in Industrial Relations in the country by using thugs to violently disrupt this year’s May Day in Imo State.

“2. That properties were vandalized and looted by the invading thugs of the Government.

“3. That some workers sustained various degrees of injuries as a result of that attack.

“4. That the Government of Imo State has become a serial abuser of workers rights and privileges committing several infractions in the process.

“5. That the Government of Imo State has, therefore, made sane and civil Social dialogue difficult in the State.

“Consequently, the joint CWC resolved as follows:

“1. To withdraw the guarantee of Industrial peace in Imo State.

“2. To embark on a comprehensive shut down of Imo State beginning from Wednesday, the 3rd of May, 2023.

“3. That all affiliates of both the NLC and TUC in Imo State are to, therefore, withdraw their services in Imo State beginning from 12 midnight on Tuesday until the State Government restores and guarantees the  protection of lives and properties of workers in the State.

“4. Further to the above, the State Government is to sign the agreement reached between it and workers in the month of March, 2023.

“5. The NLC and TUC will monitor compliance of affiliates with the decisions of the joint CWC-in-session. We will not hesitate to escalate it nation-wide if positive results are not achieved quickly within days.

“6.We hold the Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma for any further harm done to any worker in the State now or during the Industrial action.

“TUC and NLC, will do whatever it takes to protect the lives and properties of workers. We, therefore. advise all residents of Imo State to stock up on necessities because we are prepared for a marathon struggle.”

Unionism Is Voluntary – IMSG, Faults NLC

In response to the communique by the CWC of  the NLC and TUC, the Imo State Government said, in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information, Declan Emelumba, held Ajaero responsible for the crisis. The Commissioner insisted that no problem exists between the Union and Government except the one deliberately created by Ajaero.

The Statement reads:

“It is to the glory of God that, contrary to the vain wishes of the President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC),  Comrade Joe Ajaero, Imo workers and pensioners converged at Ndubuisi Kanu Square , Owerri, yesterday, May 1st, 2023, for yet another memorable May Day celebration. The smiles and clear expressions of joy on the faces of the thousands of workers who turned up for the historic event clearly showed that they were neither coerced nor intimidated to be present.

“They were simply there on their own accord. Yet, this is the impression Mr Joe Ajaero wants to create by his press release of 30th April, 2023. For the records, this could not be further from the truth. For instance, some of the senior citizens and pensioners who prayed for Governor Hope Uzodimma couldn’t have been compelled to do so because they are no longer in service.

“Yet, Ajaero, in his reckless press statements, claimed that the  leaders of the 22 industrial unions of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) in the state  who organised the Labour day celebration, were stooges of the state government. This is simply laughable because these union leaders were there long before Ajaero emerged the President of  NLC. It is an open secret that the grouse Ajaero has with these leaders is that they refused to be recruited into his hate force to amplify his rabid  hatred for the Governor and the state government, fired purely by his selfish political and clannish interests.

“That was why he negated due process and quickly moved to install a Caretaker Committee for NLC in Imo state, and went on to appoint his classmate, friend and kinsman the chairman.

“Inspite of his spirited efforts to  intimidate the workers in the state , to his  utter shame, the workers, in appreciation of what His Excellency, Senator Hope Uzodimma has done for them and the people of Imo State, endorsed him for re – election as Governor of Imo state. To them, the rantings of Joe Ajaero meant absolutely nothing.

“It is indeed curious that Joe Ajaero has chosen to be the de -facto Chairman of NLC in Imo State, instead of the National President. Otherwise, why did he dissipate all his energy to pour vituperation on Governor Hope Uzodimma, instead of addressing burning national issues affecting Nigerian workers? And there are so many of such problems to be addressed on a day like this.

“It is instructive that before the election of Comrade Ajaero as the President of NLC, which was just three months ago, the NLC, both at the National and state levels, had no issues with the State government. As a matter of fact, the state government and the national leadership of NLC, after a fruitful meeting in Owerri on January 29th, 2021, signed a communique which underscored the harmonious relationship between the union and the government.

“In fact, the first sentence at the communique was that “the NLC commended the state government for the prompt and regular payment of workers salaries as and when due, even in a harsh economic situation”.  Among the signatories to that communique is the incumbent Secretary General of NLC. Emmanuel Ugboaja, who was also the Secretary General then. So what changed in NLC, so much so that since the last three months, the NLC has been coming up with bogus, baseless and utter falsehood against the State Government, ranging from claims of 22 months salary areas and the sacking of 11,000  workers, etc?

“But in the actual fact, these gains recognised by the NLC in 2021 have actually blossomed and yielded more fruits. The Organized labour in Imo state listed some of the  government’s welfare achievements for workers at the May Day celebration to include :  Comprehensive free health insurance scheme for Imo workers.

“Renovation of the state secretariat, most extensive since 2005. Promotion areas for of all staff, since 2014, with clear records of staff strength and categorisation. Regular payment of pensioners and the kick starting of payment of  gratuities, last paid in 2007. Provision of official cars to permanent secretaries and free staff buses for workers, and many more.

“However, the only thing that changed since the 2021 communique, which has made the present NLC not to take cognizance of these achievements, is that one Joe Ajaero, an Imo son, with vaulting political ambitions and rabid hatred for  Governor Hope Uzodimma, is now the NLC President. This is the fact.

“So, while it is understandable that Ajaero is still smarting from his abysmal failure to foist a stooge as the leader of Imo Workers, he is expected to conduct himself with decorum. He should also accept the plain fact that he cannot come to Imo to dictate to the workers on how they should relate with the state government. Yes, he is the President of NLC, but the workers are not his slaves .

” He does not own them. Unionism is after all a voluntary thing.  Ajaero himself demonstrated this when he formed  his own United Labour Congress ( UlC), after he lost the NLC presidency a few years . What is now clear to even the undiscerning is that  Ajaero has a  sinister agenda in Imo state.

The National Executive Council of  NLC  must not allow him to use a noble organisation such as NLC as a platform to fight his personal and clannish political battles in Imo state. They must also not allow him create an atmosphere of rancour which could threaten the peaceful transfer of power in the country come May 29th. It is worth mentioning that Ajaero’s unbridled political ambition once turned the NLC to a divided house with daggers drawn.  He must not be allowed to precipitate that inglorious infamy a second time as the NLC may not recover from a second fall.

“His Lilliputian efforts to blackmail both the governor and the workers have failed, going by the award bestowed on His Excellency by the thousands of workers. This was done in utter scorn of his lame propaganda against the Governor and his administration.

“It is unfortunate that Joe Ajaero has been blinded by political and pecuniary considerations to continue to stoke the embers of discord in Imo State, his home state,  as if that was the sole reason he was nominated the President of NLC.

“It is worrisome that a man who previously staged a coup against the NLC because  his vaulting ambition was cut short is now employing the same office for vendetta, thus confirming the fears of those who initially opposed his ambition on the grounds that he was unfit for the high and sensitive position of NLC President.

“In as much as we have resisted the temptation to buy into the opinion in some quarters that Ajaero is suffering from a chronic psychopathic disorder that makes him worse than a bull in a China shop, particularly when given power, his continued uncoordinated and baseless attacks on the state governor and Imo workers tend to lend credence to that position.

“How else can one situate his threat to Judges presiding over the presidential election tribunal that they would face dire consequences unless they rule against the President – elect, if not from the angle of a psychopath let loose? This should be a food for thought for our security agencies.

“Just recently, he went to the Labour House to harass and intimidate officers duly recognized by law, thus exposing his contempt and derision for the judiciary. Again, only a man, who sees his office as larger than life, can embark on such mindless mission. It is, therefore, left to Nigerians to judge between Governor Hope Uzodimma, who had always believed in the rule of law, and Joe Ajaero, whose militancy is antithetical to the same rule of law. So, who actually is the dictator here?

“For the umpteenth time, Imo workers have no issues with the State Government. Joe Ajaero is an interloper driven by selfish and political ambition. A single individual can never impose his classmate, friend and kinsman on the workers as their Chairman. The earlier he faces this simple truth, the better for him.”

NAUTE Shuts Imo Airport

However, the National Union  Air Transport, has decided to embark on the strike action, thus, shutting down Imo Airport.

Its statement, in compliance with the NLC and TUC ordered strike action, said that  operations in and out of Imo Airport will be shut down from 12 midnight Tuesday. The Lagos State NLC Chapter has backed the action of NAUTE in shutting down Owerri Airport.