NLC President, Joe Ajaero
While the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and its Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, counterpart, have directed workers nationwide to begin an indefinite strike from today, the Federal Government
on Monday asked the organised Labour to shelve its planned strike .
The government reminded the NLC and the TUC of a restraining order issued by the National Industrial Court, Abuja, on Friday.
The TUC President, Festus Osifo, had announced at a press conference in Abuja on Monday that the labour action would commence on Tuesday (today) in protest against the alleged assault on the President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero by suspected thugs in Owerri, Imo State, on November 1.
Recall that President of the NIC, Justice Benedict Kanyip, had restrained the labour congress and their affiliates from embarking on any form of strike but Labour’s decision to commence an indefinite strike came despite an injunction by the National Industrial Court, NIC, in Abuja, restraining NLC and TUC alongside their affiliates from embarking on any industrial
action.
According to Osifo, the strike is to protest the battering of the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, and others in Owerri, Imo State, on November 1, as well as the pending labour issues in the state and the strike would remain until “government at all levels wake up to their responsibilities”.
According to him: “We demanded that the Area Commander that led the Police to carry out the brutalisation should be relieved his duties and prosecuted.
“We asked also that Governor Hope Uzodinma’s Special Adviser, SA, on Special Duties, Chinasa Nwaneri, who everyone knew led the touts, should also be arrested and prosecuted.
