The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have linked the arrest of NLC
President, Comrade Joe Ajaero in Owerri, the Imo State capital, to Governor Hope Uzodimma.
NLC alleged that the governor conspired with the state Police Commissioner, Muhammed Barde to ‘abduct’ Ajaero in Owerri.
In a statement by Emmanuel Ugboaja (NLC) and Nuhu Toro (TUC), the unions said that Uzodimma was using the instrument of violence and intimidation’ against trade unions in the state.
Parts of the statement read: “Just as Nigerian workers gathered earlier this morning led by the leadership of the two Labour centres to demonstrate our outrage over the serial and habitual abuse and violation of the rights of workers in the state, the government unleashed blood-curdling mayhem on the workers.
“Earlier in the morning, policemen had tried to disperse workers who were gathering at the state NLC secretariat without success. This was followed in the usual manner by ‘thugs’ who were stationed very close to the secretariat in several Hilux and Toyota trucks.
“These ‘thugs’ were later to unleash mayhem on the few workers who had already gathered, smashing car windscreens, delivering matchet cuts on some, stabbing many, and inflicting all manners of injuries on the workers. GSM handsets were snatched, laptops taken away, and money were forcefully taken away by the hoodlums.
“As if that damage was not enough, the President of the NLC, Comrade Joe Ajaero, arrived at the venue accompanied by a few individual workers to inspect the carnage and to provide the necessary leadership for the trade union action to continue, only to be met by Policemen of the Imo State Police Command who came in their numbers and in several trucks”.
