In a gripping turn of events, Comrade Joe Ajaero, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), found himself in police custody during an intense protest in Imo State, sparking chaos as yet-to-be-identified hoodlums attacked demonstrators, leading to vehicle damage and injuries among NLC members.
The current whereabouts of the NLC President remain a mystery after heavily armed security personnel detained him during the protest.
The episode transpired following the NLC’s planned protest commencing from November 1st, 2023, aimed at highlighting alleged worker rights violations by the State government. Comrade Ajaero voiced frustration over the persistent breach of agreements by the Imo State Government, prompting the NLC to organize mass protests and industrial actions to draw attention to the continued infringements on workers’ rights in the state.
Workers faced unpaid salaries, with some enduring up to 20 months without payment, alongside the unjust classification of around 11,000 individuals as ‘ghost workers,’ despite their dedicated service.
In an interview with the press, Comrade Ajaero expressed grave concerns about the consistent violation of workers’ rights by the Imo State Government, emphasizing the government’s recurrent disregard for agreements despite multiple attempts at constructive dialogue.
He stated, “NLC was deeply concerned about the persistent and egregious violations of the rights and privileges of workers in Imo State by the State Government.”
“As a result, we are left with no choice but to embark on mass protests and industrial actions beginning on the 1st day of November, 2023, to stand against these continuous violations.”
