Leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, has declared an immediate and total strike in Imo State, from Today, Wednesday, over attack on NLC President, Joe AJaero, and other labour leaders.
They also resolved to declare a nationwide strike by Tuesday, November 14, if their demands were not met.
This was disclosed in a communique signed by NLC’s Deputy President and TUC President, Prince Adewale Adeyanju and Festus Osifo respectively, issued at the end of their joint National Executive Council, NEC, meeting on Tuesday, November 7, directing all workers and affiliates to ensure total compliance.
According to the communique, their grievances include outstanding salary arrears, unjust declaration of 11,000 workers as ghost employees, unsettled gratuities, non-compliance to N30,000 Minimum Wage Act, and declaration of 10,000 pensioners as ghost retirees.
They said all flights into and out of Imo State, fuel supplies and electricity be stopped immediately as applicable.
The communique read in part, “To this end, the joint NLC/TUC NEC-in-session observed that the decision to embark on an industrial action in Imo State was purely in keeping with its earlier resolution, Imo State government under Hope Uzodimma, continues in its abuse of the rights and privileges of workers in the state.
“The government has repeatedly reneged on agreements, most notably the accord reached on January 9, 2021, between the government and organised labour.”
It also disclosed that, “The president of the NLC was subsequently subjected to brutalization, blindfolded and abducted by the police and taken to an unknown destination where he was further subjected to further violations and humiliation;
“The continued prevalence of the use of violence and impunity in negotiating rights and interests within the nation’s socioeconomic space against all known dictates of democracy and social dialogue.
“All workers and affiliates are expected to ensure compliance from wherever they are. All flights into and out of Imo State, fuel supplies and electricity be stopped immediately as applicable.
‘’All public and private sector workers are to immediately shut down tools indefinitely. If our demands are still unmet, workers all over the federation shall join in withdrawing their services by Midnight Tuesday, on November the 14, 2023. All state councils of NLC & TUC and affiliates are by this resolution, mandated to ensure full compliance with NEC’s decision,” the communique read.
