The Nigeria Labour Congress has demanded the arrest and prosecution of Mr Chinasa Nwaneri, the Special Adviser on Special Duties to the Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma for leading the attack on workers at its secretariat in Owerri and particularly the assault and beating on its President, Comrade Joe Ajaero.
In a post on Tuesday, it also demanded that the former Imo Commissioner of Police Ahmed Barde should be investigated and prosecuted with other police officers in Imo State who played a role in the abduction of its leader.
While applauding workers for their doggedness at the kick-off of its nationwide strike on Monday midnight, it charged the government to identify, arrest, and prosecute the thugs who assaulted the President.
It accused the Chief Security Officer of Imo State Government House, SP Shaba of providing cover for thugs who brutalized workers as they protested in the State.
It warned that if the demands are not met, the indefinite nationwide strike will continue as the assault on its President is an assault on all workers in Nigeria.
Recall that the NLC President, Comrade Ajaero was beaten up in Owerri a few days before the off-cycle gubernatorial election in the State when workers converged to protest alleged 40 months salary arrears. He was at the NLC secretariat when the thugs invaded and beat up workers and quickly abducted him and further beat him up.
Meanwhile, the schools and institutions have joined in the strike which is crippling the economy of the nation.
In response, Governor Uzodinma speaking on Tuesday at a meeting with the Imo State Council of Elders at the Government House in Owerri, said his government regretted the assault on Comrade Ajaero but warned that he would not be intimidated by non-state actors.
“The sponsored antagonism between Imo State and the national leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress, politically sponsored antagonism – we are already handling.
“The government of Imo State regrets any assault meted on the President of the Nigerian Labour Congress, but at the same time condemns in its entirety the attempt by the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, to take the leadership of Imo State for granted,” he said.
