By Chuks NZEH
Ahead of its planned nationwide strike by Tuesday midnight, the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has said the demand for workers’ rights will continue irrespective of who leads the congress.
President of NLC, Comrade Joe Ajaero, who made the remarks during a press conference in Abuja, said even if he had died
in the struggle, his successors would continue to advocate for workers’ rights.
Ajaero relived his ordeal and what exactly transpired in Owerri, Imo State, during the botched NLC protest.
“Not even my death could have stopped the struggle for the payment of those workers. If I had died in the process, the people that would take over, would be more daring,” he said.
Ajaero further averred that the action in Owerri had already been planned as part of the congress’ action-plan to protest in some states where workers’ rights are being trampled upon as NLC national did in Port Harcourt, Rivers State and Kaduna, Kaduna State in defense of their members in the recent past.
While reacting to a question on the timing of the protest, Ajaero said NLC wisely decided to take action now than wait for a new government to emerge in Imo.
“People would have still asked what we were waiting for all the years if we have waited for a new government to emerge in Imo State. Our mission in Imo was purely for the interest of workers. How can State governor not have money to pay workers but has enough to settle certain elders of the State monthly.
“We heard that the workers who had arrived at the protest venue as early as 7am were beaten and chased away. So I arrived there by 9am with about 20 security personnel and was about to address journalists on the situation of things, when the police and other people in mufti came in and withdrew all the security there, they arrested me and handed me over to thugs who dragged me on the ground, hit me with all manners of things and tied my eyes.
“They started asking me why I was challenging the Governor Hope Uzodinma and that I should say my last prayers that they were going to throw me into Njaba River. They said I am playing local politics. But I do not know which one is local politics. I am not a card carrying member of any political party in Nigeria. And as a governor he should be privileged to some classified information to say which political party I belong. But I thank God that I am a life today. Whoever that has diverted the workers money, has diverted blood money and has attracted generational curse,” he said.
He went on to say, “For those who said I was in Imo to aid election of my family members, I am not sure that any body from my village is contesting for even councilorship election, not to talk of my family. Anybody that is supporting the non-payment of workers salaries, him and his family.
“I do not have any family members or whatever running for election but they are free to run if they are interested. If I want to run for any office tomorrow I will pick the form of any party. There is no law that forbids a civil servant from contesting elections. The appeal court has also made it clear that you do not need permission for a protest or rally. You only inform the security.
“There were some media organizations that their staff were humiliated on that day. Two TVC staff were handcuffed. Were they also playing politics? And the TVC has kept criminal silence about it. Why has the NUJ not said a word about the humiliation of journalists? Not even my death could have stopped the struggle for the payment of those workers. If I had died in the process, the people that would take over, would be more daring.
“Any of the deputies here that would take over, would have been more decisive. So no body is backing out, it is a question of allowing justice to prevail and the people you are owing you pay them.”
Also speaking, NLC General Secretary,
Com. Emmanuel Ugboaja, said “We will not accept the torture, humiliation, brutalization of a citizen that has global stature. There have been calls from all over the world to clarify what transpired and the state of Joe Ajaero. So, if people from across the world are calling, and your own country is not speaking, it means that there is something they know that we do not know.
“So, from Tuesday, the Nigerian workers under NLC and TUC will be withdrawing their services. President of NLC and his team were used as the point of contact, hundreds of workers were actually brutalized. Their phones, money and wallets taken. He is just the figurehead of what transpired. And as we speak nothing has been done. So, we cannot continue like this as a nation.”
Meanwhile, the NLC, and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, have confirmed their plans to commence a nationwide strike from midnight Tuesday 14th November to protest against the brutalisation of Comrade Joe Ajaero in Owerri, Imo State.
