As the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) gear up for their nationwide strike starting midnight on November 14, an increasing number of organizations have rallied behind the cause.
The decision to embark on the strike is rooted in protest against the alleged brutality faced by Joe Ajaero, the NLC president, in Imo state on November 1.
Festus Osifo, the TUC president, emphasized that the strike will persist until “government at all levels wake up to their responsibilities.”
The focal point of the protest remains the reported mistreatment of Ajaero, who was reportedly taken into protective custody by heavily armed police officers in Owerri to avoid a potential mob attack, according to the Imo police command.
Despite restraining orders from both the national industrial court in Owerri and the federal government, the unions, unwavering in their stance, continue to stand in solidarity.
Circulars from various unions, including the National Union of Electricity Employees, Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN), National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees (NUBIFIE), Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics (SSANIP), National Union of Food Beverage and Tobacco Employees, Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, Nigeria Union of Railway Workers, National Union of Postal and Telecommunication Employees, National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), and Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, have been shared on the NLC’s Facebook page.
The collective call for justice and government accountability echoes the sentiment of solidarity among the unions, emphasizing the strength that unity brings to their cause.
The nationwide strike is expected to draw attention to the broader issues at hand and seek redress for the alleged injustices faced by Ajaero.”