The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Council (TUC) have jointly appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene and rein in Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State following the recent outbreak of violence against members of workers’ unions in the state.
In the early hours of Wednesday, NLC President Joe Ajaero was forcibly taken from the Congress State Council Secretariat in Owerri by heavily armed security operatives and escorted to an undisclosed location.
In a joint statement condemning the incident, the general-secretaries of NLC and TUC, Emmanuel Ugboaja and Nuhu Toro respectively, expressed their concern over the governor’s transformation of the state into a hotbed of violence and criminal activities.
“Hope Uzodinma must be called to order by the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces to avert the dire consequences of his decision to turn the state into a breeding ground for violence and criminality,” the statement emphasized.
Undeterred by the recent incident, the unions have resolved to continue their advocacy until the government pays heed to the demands of the workers.
“We will persist in our engagement as trade unions until the government listens to the cries of the workers,” the unions declared.
“The governor should not deceive himself into thinking that the violence witnessed today will dampen our resolve and determination to fight for the welfare of the workers of Imo State.
“On the contrary, it has only emboldened us to organize ourselves better so that we can engage him more effectively and creatively,” the statement added.
Furthermore, the unions denounced the arrest and detention of Mr. Ajaero, describing it as utterly unacceptable.
The statement read: “In the morning, the police attempted to disperse workers congregating at the state NLC secretariat, but their efforts were in vain. Shortly after, a group of thugs stationed near the secretariat in several Hilux and Toyota trucks unleashed violence on the few workers present. They vandalized car windows, inflicted machete cuts, stabbed many individuals, and caused various injuries. The hoodlums snatched mobile phones, confiscated laptops, and forcefully took away money from the victims.”
“To compound the damage, NLC President Comrade Joe Ajaero, accompanied by a handful of workers, arrived at the scene to inspect the carnage and provide necessary leadership for the continuation of the trade union action. However, they were met with an overwhelming number of police officers from the Imo State Police Command, who arrived in multiple trucks alongside thugs led by the Special Assistant to the Governor of Imo State on Special Duties, Mr. Chinasa Nwaneri, and others. The police and thugs subjected the president to brutal attacks, inflicting severe injuries and dragging him on the ground while the police oversaw the mayhem.”
“Subsequently, they forcibly placed the president inside their waiting van and whisked him away to an unknown location where he is currently being held incommunicado.”
The statement concluded by saying, “This latest action by the state government and the police further validates our previous concerns regarding the prevalent violence and lawlessness in Imo State. If the president of the NLC can be abducted in broad daylight by the police and the state governor, one can only imagine the extent of brutality inflicted on workers and trade union leaders within the state!”
