In a significant development, the leadership of organized labour has chosen to suspend the nationwide indefinite strike that commenced on Tuesday, November 14, 2023.
The strike was initiated in protest of the assault on Joe Ajaero, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC). The decision to suspend the strike was announced on Wednesday night following a crucial meeting with the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
The genesis of the strike was rooted in the attack on Ajaero, who, alongside other labour leaders, led a rally in Owerri, Imo State, on November 1. The rally was organized to protest against the alleged violation of workers’ rights by the State government. However, the event took a disturbing turn when Ajaero was arrested by the police and reportedly subjected to physical assault by political thugs believed to be associated with the State Governor, Hope Uzodinma.
This incident provoked widespread condemnation from the labour movement, leading to a set of demands, including the dismissal and prosecution of the Area Commander responsible for the attack. In response to the outcry, both the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) declared a nationwide strike, causing disruptions to commercial activities across the country.
Intervening in the crisis, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu disclosed that two suspects linked to the assault on Ajaero had been apprehended. This intervention played a pivotal role in the decision to suspend the nationwide strike.
During an extraordinary National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at Labour House, Abuja, the labour leaders carefully considered the promises made by the NSA. Following the meeting, a spokesperson for the labour movement revealed, “We’ve just finished an extraordinary NEC meeting. We have considered all the appeals made to us by the NSA during our meeting in his office in the afternoon. We shall give him time to coordinate the investigations as promised.”
Confirming the suspension, Comrade Sikiru Waheed, the General Secretary of the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employee (AUPCTRE), informed journalists about the positive outcome of the meeting with the National Security Adviser.
The suspension of the nationwide strike marks a significant development in the ongoing dialogue between organized labour and the government, emphasizing the importance of addressing the concerns surrounding the assault on Joe Ajaero and ensuring justice prevails. The decision reflects a willingness to allow the investigative process to unfold, as promised by the National Security Adviser, with the hope of reaching a satisfactory resolution that serves the interests of the labour movement and the nation at large.
