Imo date Governor, Hope Uzodimma while speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Thursday, November 9, 2023, accused the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, of pursuing the agenda of the Labour Party in Imo State.
‘Joe Ajaero is pursuing his personal interest.’ The governor stressed that Ajaero confirmed his affiliation to the Labour Party, saying his activities in the state are, geared towards actualising his party’s agenda.
Although though the governor has denied the allegations, the Organised Labour has ordered the shutdown of essential services in Imo and declared a nationwide strike effective from November 14 to protest the attack on Ajaero.
According to Uzodimma said he’s still trying to understand why Ajaero has been hostile to his governments, adding that he looks forward to the day he will engage labour. ‘It’s surprising that an NLC president from Imo State will be hostile to my government,’ he said.
The Aviation Unions in Nigeria had on Wednesday, directed their workers to withdraw services to all public and private Owerri flights (both inwards and outwards) with effect from midnight. The unions said the strike is indefinite until otherwise directed by the NLC and the TUC.
On Thursday, the Organised Labour picketed the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja and grounded air travel activities, causing traffic gridlock while at it.
The NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) had since ordered shutdown of essential services in Imo as protest for the attack on Ajaero and declared a nationwide strike effective November 14, 2023.
Ajaero was attacked in Owerri last Wednesday just before a planned protest in the state to press the state government to heed the demands of the workers in the state. the NLC accused the Uzodimma government of supervising the assault on Ajaero but the government has denied the allegations.
