The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, was arrested by the police during an ongoing protest in Imo State.
The protest took a violent turn as miscreants targeted the demonstrators, damaging vehicles, and causing injuries to NLC members.
As of now, the whereabouts of the NLC President remain unknown, as he was taken away by heavily armed security personnel.
This incident comes after the NLC announced its plans to commence protests in Imo State from November 1st, 2023.
The protests were organized in response to alleged violations and abuses of workers’ rights and privileges by the state government.
Comrade Ajaero expressed deep concern over the consistent and severe violations of workers’ rights and privileges in Imo State, despite repeated efforts to engage in constructive dialogues and reach amicable agreements with the government.
The NLC President emphasized that the protests became necessary because the state government had failed to implement previous agreements, repeatedly reneging on commitments, including the accord reached on January 9th, 2021, between the government and organized labor.
One of the pressing issues raised is the prolonged non-payment of salaries, with some workers enduring up to 20 months of unpaid wages under the false label of ‘ghost workers.’
Additionally, approximately 11,000 diligent individuals have been unfairly classified as ghost workers, with their salaries diverted, despite their dedicated service to the state.
The detention of Comrade Joe Ajaero underscores the challenges faced by labor activists in their quest to protect the rights and privileges of workers.
The situation remains fluid, with concerns growing about the safety and well-being of the NLC President and the escalating tensions in Imo State.