In response to the assault on Joe Ajaero, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), by members of the Nigeria Police Force last week, Organised Labour, which includes the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), has issued an order to shut down electricity and fuel supplies in Imo State indefinitely.
Additionally, aviation workers have been directed to suspend flights into and out of the state.
These directives were made during an extraordinary National Executive Council meeting convened by the TUC and NUC on Tuesday afternoon.
“The NEC-in-session has ordered the immediate withdrawal of services and the shutdown of Imo State from midnight today. All workers and affiliates should ensure compliance from their respective locations. Flights into and out of Imo State, as well as fuel supplies and electricity, must be stopped immediately. All public and private sector workers are to suspend their activities indefinitely,” stated a communique released at the conclusion of the meeting.
The implementation of these measures will begin at midnight on November 8, 2023.
Last Friday, Organised Labour, comprising the NLC and the TUC, issued a five-day ultimatum following the arrest of NLC’s President, Joe Ajaero, by the police in Owerri, Imo State, on Wednesday.
The labour centers demanded the reassignment of the state’s commissioner of police and the apprehension and prosecution of a government aide allegedly involved in the attack.
If their demands were not met within five days, the unions threatened to embark on a nationwide industrial action.
Ajaero was apprehended by the police ahead of a statewide protest in Imo on Wednesday. This was revealed by Benson Upah, the NLC’s Head of Information.
Although the police denied arresting Ajaero, claiming he was taken into protective custody to prevent potential mob violence, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma accused the labour leader of interfering in the state’s political affairs.
The attack on the labour leader has been criticized by numerous prominent Nigerians and civil society organizations, including Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 elections, and human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN).