The Organised Labour, comprising of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress, on Friday, issued a five-day ultimatum over the earlier arrest of the National President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero, by the police in Owerri, Imo State, on Wednesday.
The labour centres demanded the redeployment of the commissioner of police in the state and the arrest and prosecution of the aide of the government who was alleged to have perpetrated the attack.
The unions also threatened to embark on a nationwide industrial action if their demands were not met in five days from Friday.
Ajaero was arrested by the police ahead of the state-wide protest in Imo on Wednesday. This was disclosed by the NLC’s Head of Information, Benson Upah.
The Organised Labour demanded the arrest and prosecution of the Special Adviser to the Imo State governor, Hope Uzodimma, on Special Duties, threatening to embark on a nationwide industrial action if their demands were not carried out.
Some of the other demands made on the Federal Government by the leaders of the 2 unions include the removal of the Commissioner of Police, Imo State, and Area Commander, among other officials, for their alleged complicity in the brutalisation and humiliation of Ajaero and other workers.
The union leaders accused the Imo State government as well as the police of being responsible for the attack on the NLC leader.
Imo State Government, Police deny allegations
Meanwhile, the Imo State Government and the police denied every allegation against them in their separate responses on Friday.
Speaking on the issue earlier at the State House in Abuja on Thursday, the Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, denied the allegation of being responsible for the attack on Ajaero, saying it took his intervention before the NLC leaders in his state who were suspended and replaced with the caretaker committee were reinstated.
Uzodimma accused Ajaero, an indigene of Imo State, of being involved in local politics.
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