Sierra Leone Labour Congress (SLLC) demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Comrade Ajaero and other illegally detained workers activists.
By Jeffrey Agbo
Sierra Leone Labour Congress (SLLC) has called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the crisis between the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) representing Imo workers, and Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State.
The SLLC said in a letter dated November 2, 2023 and addressed to Tinubu that the manhandling of the NLC president, Joe Ajaero, on November 1 is condemnable, adding that such should not happen in a civil society.
The letter signed by the SLLC secretary general, Max Conteh, reads: “The leadership and membership of the Sierra Leone Labour Congress (SLLC), which is the national centre of all workers in Sierra Leone, have received the distressing news with disdain of the arrest of Comrade Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) by a combined team of policemen and armed thugs while he was executing a mandate of the NLC National Executive Council (NEC) to lead Imo State workers demonstrating against the flagrant abuses of their rights and privileges by the State government.
“Comrade Ajaero was also reportedly severely assaulted and beaten by the police and thugs and dragged on the ground before he was taken into custody. Several workers and journalists were also allegedly assaulted and macheted by the thugs. The brutal attack which happened earlier yesterday, Wednesday 1st November 2023, is not only shocking but an indication of the despotic degeneration of Nigeria’s capitalist state and an affront to the entirety of the labour movement in Nigeria and must not happen in a civilised world.
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“We have it on good authority that the thugs who assaulted Comrade Ajaero and other worker activists were led by Governor Hope Uzodinma’s Special Adviser on Special Duties, Nze Chinasa Nwaneri. This individual and his cohorts, including men of the Nigerian Police, must be arrested, investigated and appropriately sanctioned. Nigeria is not a banana republic and must not be painted as such by the actions of uncouth persons. Impunity must not be allowed to writ large in the Nigerian polity.
“Mr. President, we are informed that the supposed peaceful demonstration by the Imo State workers today was primarily to protest against Governor Hope Uzondima’s relentless implementation of anti-worker policies, one of which is the branding of over 11,000 workers as ghost workers. At the same time, their salaries have been unpaid for over 20 months and counting despite diligently carrying out their duties.
“To this extent, the Sierra Leone Labour Congress (SLLC) hereby demands the immediate and unconditional release of Comrade Ajaero and other illegally detained workers activists. By arresting and physically assaulting the NLC President, the Imo State governor is sending a clear message on behalf of Nigeria’s decadent capitalist elite that no one is beyond repression, not even the leader of one of the largest trade union organisations in Africa. Sierra Leone workers will act in solidarity with their Nigerian counterparts and would not spare any action to counter these repressive attacks if not swiftly halted. Whilst looking forward to your cooperation, please accept the expressions of my kindest regards.”
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