The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, has been arrested by the police in Imo State. This incident occurred during an ongoing protest, where chaos erupted as miscreants descended on protesters, smashing vehicles, and inflicting injuries on NLC members.
The whereabouts of Comrade Joe Ajaero remain unknown, as heavily armed security personnel took him into custody. The NLC had announced plans to commence protests in Imo State from November 1st, citing alleged violations and abuses of workers' rights and privileges by the state government.
Comrade Ajaero expressed the NLC's deep concern over what he described as "persistent and egregious violations of the rights and privileges of workers in Imo State by the State Government." Despite repeated efforts to engage in constructive dialogue and reach amicable agreements, the state government has consistently disregarded these agreements, leading to the decision to initiate mass protests and industrial actions.
According to Ajaero, the protest is a vital means to demonstrate their outrage and put an end to the continuous violation of workers' rights and privileges. He emphasized that the state government had failed to implement previous agreements, including the accord reached on January 9th, 2021, between the government and Organised Labour.
One of the pressing issues highlighted by Ajaero is the outstanding salary arrears. Shockingly, some workers have endured a staggering 20 months of unpaid salaries, under the unfounded label of 'ghost workers.' Furthermore, the unjust declaration of workers as ghost workers has affected approximately 11,000 hardworking individuals, leading to the diversion of their salaries, despite their diligent performance of their duties.
This arrest and the ongoing protests have escalated tensions in Imo State, and the nation eagerly awaits further developments in this concerning situation.
