The Joint Action Front, a group of Nigerian activists, on Wednesday, condemned the alleged arrest of the National President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, in Owerri.
They further warn of an impending mass action if anything happens to him.
Ajaero was reportedly whisked away by security operatives from the state congress secretariat ahead of a planned protest in the state over workers’ welfare neglect.
His arrest, which was announced by NLC Head of Information, Benson Upah, has since sparked outrage from the public and the Trade Union Congress.
The incident has led the organised labour to accuse Governor Hope Uzodimma of orchestrating his abduction from the secretariat to an unknown destination.
Reacting via a statement, the JAF Secretary, Comrade Abiodun Aremu condemned Ajaero’s arrest, saying, “Joint Action Front condemns the arrest of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President Comrade Joe Ajaero as well as the terror unleashed on workers and journalists by the police and thugs at the behest of Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma. Comrade Ajaero was not just arrested but was also physically assaulted before being taken into custody.
“Comrade Ajaero had on Wednesday November 1, 2023 led Imo State workers and labour activists who had come nationally in solidarity in a protest over the continued attacks on rights and condition of workers by the state government. Among other things, the state government fraudulently declared 11,000 workers and thereby denied them of their legitimate salaries for several months. The state government has not only flagrantly disregarded and violated the agreement it entered with the NLC national leadership over the dispute but also doubled down on the attacks on workers including vandalism of NLC State Secretariat
“We consider the arrest of the NLC President and the repression of the protest as a brazen affront on the labour movement. We strongly hold that there must be a response with the full force of the labour movement.
“We therefore propose a one-day general strike and nationwide protest to register a strong statement against the arrest of comrade Ajaero , attack of democratic rights and inhuman treatment of workers in Imo State. Even if the NLC President is released, we strongly propose that the strike should still be held.
“The strike must also be in solidarity with the demands of Imo workers and to put on the front burner the objection and rejection of the anti poor capitalist policies of Bola Tinubu government which are responsible for the serious socio-economic hardship being currently faced by the vast majority of Nigerians.”
