Sophia Michaels
NLC President, Joe Ajaero
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and sister unions have disclosed plans to take action against Gov Hope Uzodinma following the assault on its President, Joe Ajaero, in Owerri, the Imo State capital on Wednesday.
Uzodinma, in his reaction to the attack on Ajaero, accused the NLC President of meddling in the state’s politics.
He said Ajaero must learn to draw a line between his role as a labour leader and being a partisan Imo State indigene.
The governor accused the leader of trying to blackmail his government over non-payment of salaries, insisting that all Imo workers have been paid their due wages.
NLC, in reaction to Uzodinma’s statement, vowed to take action following the brutalization of its national president, Ajaero.
The union also noted that a decision would be taken following a meeting of all its organs.
The Head of Information of the NLC, Benson Upah, revealed this in an interview with Punch.
Upah said, “There will be a full and appropriate response. As soon as the organs meet, you will be availed the details.”
Similarly, the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics has condemned the attack on Ajaero.
In a statement signed by its National President, Anderson Ezeibe, the union said it would await directives from the NLC on the steps to take.
The statement read, “Our union has been closely monitoring reports from Imo State as it affects the planned protest by the leaderships of the NLC and TUC over the conditions of Imo workers in Imo State.
“It is shocking to read reports of attacks and brutalization of unarmed workers and the leadership of the NLC to the extent of causing bodily harm to our protesting comrades who were only expressing their constitutionally guaranteed rights to freedom of association and expression.”
