How Police led by Uzodimma’s aide, Chinasa Nwaneri, used thugs to arrest NLC President Ajaero in Owerri
By Emma Ogbuehi
The President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Comrade Joe Ajaero has been arrested by the Police in Owerri, Imo State.
This is as miscreants descended on protesters, smashing vehicles and inflicting wounds on labour members.
Already, the whereabouts of the NLC President is unknown as heavily armed security personnel took him away.
Confirming the arrest to TheNiche, Ajaero’s personal assistant, Mr. Onyeka Chris, said the police led by Governor Hope Uzodimma’s aide, Mr. Chinasa Nwaneri, brought thugs to the NLC secretariat to unleash mayhem and whisk Ajaero away.
“We came to Imo for our proposed strike which kicked off today. In the morning, few of us came to the secretariat to organize the industrial action. But the police brought thugs to unleash mayhem and arrest many of our members. Some of us were able to evade arrest.
“Then the NLC President heard what was happening and decided to come to the Secretariat. But they were apparently waiting for him. They swooped on him and took him away.
“As I speak with you, we don’t know where they took him. We cannot reach him. His phone has been switched off. The Police came with Chinasa Nwaneri leading thugs. They beat up everybody. It is complete mayhem.”
READ ALSO: NLC begins strike in Imo, says Uzodimma’s administration must respect workers’ rights
TheNiche had earlier published a story of the industrial action embarked upon by the NLC in Imo State today.
Ajaero hails from Imo State.
In an interview with Vanguard newspaper on Sunday, Ajaero said the “NLC was deeply concerned about the persistent and egregious violations of the rights and privileges of workers in Imo State by the State Government.”
He added: “Despite our repeated efforts to engage in constructive dialogue and reach amicable agreements, the Imo State Government has become a habitual and serial breaker of these agreements, continuing to trample on the rights of workers in the state.
“As a result, we are left with no choice but to embark on mass protests and industrial actions beginning on the 1st day of November, 2023.
“This is to demonstrate our outrage and stop the continuing violation of the rights and privileges of workers in the state,”
The NLC president added that the protest was imperative as the government of the state had refused to implement previous agreements.
According to Ajaero, the government has repeatedly reneged on agreements, most notably the accord reached on January 9, 2021, between the Government and Organised Labour.
“On outstanding salary arrears, shockingly, some workers have been subjected to a staggering 20 months of unpaid salaries under the unfounded label of ‘ghost workers’.
“Unjust declaration of workers as ghost workers. Approximately 11,000 hardworking individuals have been unjustly branded as ghost workers, their salaries diverted even while they diligently carried out their duties,” he said.