NLC president Joe Ajaero arrested

The president of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has been arrested by the police in Owerri, the capital of Imo state, in Nigeria’s southeast region.

Benson Upah, who heads the information unit of the labour organisation, revealed that the police arrested Ajaero at the union’s secretariat in Owerri.

“President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Joe Ajaero was picked up a few minutes ago from NLC state council secretariat by heavily armed policemen in Owerri and taken to an unknown destination,” Upah reportedly said.

It is believed that Ajaero is in the state to mobilise the workers against the state government, which he claimed was “violating the rights of the Nigerian workers in the state.” At a press conference he held previously, Ajaero had slated November 1 for the commencement of the protest.

During the press briefing, Ajaero accused Imo Governor Hope Uzodimma of neglecting workers’ welfare and said many of them had died without getting the salaries. He also said Governor Uzodimma reneged on previous agreements between him and the workers, who are allegedly owed for 20 months. About 10,000 workers, Ajaero said, were accused of being fake and consequently sacked. Other accusations include the government refusing to pay retired workers their pensions for 22 months. Ajaero similarly alleged Governor Uzodimma has refused any roundtable talk with the aggrieved workers.

Details later…