As the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), commence strike in Imo state today, its President, Joe Ajaero, has directed all members of the Union and affiliate Unions to shut down all sectors in the state.
Ajaero announced the commencement of the protest at the end of the Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting held in the late hours of Tuesday, October 31, 2023, in Owerri, the state capital.
Ajaero’s announcement comes amidst a court order restraining NLC and TUC from embarking on protests in the state.
He said, “The protest and strike action take place unfailingly tomorrow, Wednesday, November 1 and the action be total across all the sectors as unions must embark on heightened mobilisation.
“Imo State be shut down; air, land and sea; However, Owerri Airport to remain open till noon before it is shut down.”
Recall the NLC president had accused the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, of violating and neglecting workers’ welfare.
He alleged that due to the hostile actions of the governor towards workers in the state, many of them have died because of the lack of payment of their salaries.
Speaking further, Ajaero lamented the non-compliance with the national minimum wage by the state government while accusing Uzodimma of refusing to implement previous agreements, especially the accord reached on January 9, 2021.
Also, he said outstanding salary arrears of about 20 months have not been paid, 10,000 pensioners have been wrongly labelled as ghost pensioners, resulting in over 22 months of unpaid pensions, while about 11,000 workers have been labelled as ghost workers by the state.
He said the decision to storm the state was a result of the refusal of Uzodimma to use social dialogue and collective bargaining to resolve the issues.