Organized Labour Orders Shutdown of Imo, Issues Nationwide Strike Notice

The Organized Labour has declared a fresh nationwide strike in Imo , scheduled to start as from Tuesday, next week.

Both the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) also ordered the shutdown of Imo State with immediate effect, ahead of the Saturday governorship poll in the state.

Labour leaders announced this on Tuesday at the end of an extraordinary meeting of the TUC and NLC in Abuja.

The meeting was convened by the Labour to take decision on the next step on the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, who was injured while leading a protest last week in Owerri, the Imo State Capital.

Also, the meeting was held to review the last October 2 agreement signed with federal government on the palliatives on the petrol subsidy removal.

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In Imo State, the Labour leaders ordered electricity workers to cut power supply, halt petrol supply and stop flights in and out of the state indefinitely.

The labour centres demanded the redeployment of the commissioner of police in the state and the arrest and prosecution of the aide of the government who was alleged to have perpetrated the attack.

The unions also threatened to embark on a nationwide industrial action if their demands were not met in five days from Friday.

Ajaero was arrested by the police ahead of the state-wide protest in Imo on Wednesday. This was disclosed by the NLC’s Head of Information, Benson Upah.

Although the police denied arresting Ajaero, stating that he was merely taken into protective custody to prevent a mob attack, the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, accused the labour leader of meddling in the political affairs of the state.

The attack on the labour leader has been condemned by many prominent Nigerians and civil society organisations, including the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, and human rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana (SAN).