The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, has put its members on alert for a nationwide strike over the attack and brutalization of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, President, Joe Ajaero and other labour leaders by violent said to be agents of the Imo State government.
Ajaero and other leaders of NLC and their Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, among others including some journalists, were attacked and brutalized by suspected agents of the state at the NLC secretariat in Owerri.
The thugs, it was gathered, were mobilized to disrupt a planned protest by workers on Thursday over unpaid salaries and allowances by Imo State government.
Media reports said that thugs descended on Labour leaders and other protesters, smashing vehicles, inflicting injuries and dispossessing handsets, money, ATM cards among other valuables from labour leaders and others, who were gathered at the NLC State secretariat ahead of the said strike.
NUPENG’s President, Prince Williams Akporeha, condemned the Ajaero’s arrest and brutalization.
He said, “We condemn with the strongest term the arrest and brutalization of Congress President, Comrade Joe Ajaero and other labour leaders by the agents of Imo State Government. We reject the act of violence and barbarism being unleashed on labour leaders, workers and others. We cannot accept this uncivilised behaviour in a democracy.”
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