Just in: NLC, TUC summon extraordinary NEC meeting over proposed industrial action

Nigeria’s main organised labour bodies, the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress, have summoned an extraordinary National Executive Council, NEC, meeting ahead of Wednesday’s nationwide strike.

TUC’s National Vice President, Tommy Etim, announced the call for a meeting on Tuesday.

At the meeting, the labour will deliberate on the modalities of the proposed strike following the attack on the National President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero, and review the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Federal Government and the labour bodies on October 2, 2023, following the removal of the subsidy on fuel.

Recall that organised labour unions announced plans to commence a nationwide industrial action, starting from Wednesday, November 8, to protest against the recent abduction and physical beating of their president, Joe Ajaero.

The event occurred last Wednesday when the Imo State Police Command allegedly snatched Ajaero from the NLC state council secretariat in Owerri, where he was waiting for colleagues to join him for a peaceful protest.

The Nigerian Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress said Ajaero was rough-handled, humiliated, and taken to an unknown destination where he was subjected to more beating before the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, ordered his immediate release.

The labour unions, in a statement issued last Friday, signed by their General Secretaries, Emmanuel Ugboaja and Comrade Nuhu Toro, threatened to commence a nationwide strike on Wednesday, November 8, should the government fail to address their demands, including the probe and immediate removal of the Imo State Commissioner of Police, Cp. Ahmed Barde, due to his alleged complicity and unprofessional conduct.

They also demanded the restoration of their confiscated properties, the implementation of all outstanding industrial relations issues previously agreed upon, and the treatment of other workers and journalists who had experienced inhumane treatment by the police.