From Adanna Nnamani, Abuja
The Organised Labour has ordered its members to immediately withdraw services and shutdown Imo state indefinitely beginning midnight Tuesday.
Labour also directed public and private workers all over the federation to join in withdrawing their services by Midnight Tuesday, the 14th of November, if their demands are still unmet.
The strike declaration was made in a communique issued after a joint National Executive Council Meeting of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) on Tuesday in Abuja.
The document was co-signed by the NLC Deputy President Adewale Adeyanj, and President of the TUC, Festus Osifo.
It said the decision to embark on an industrial action in Imo State was purely in keeping with its earlier resolution, adding that the Imo state Government under Hope Uzodinma has heartlessly continued to abuse the rights and privileges of workers in the state.
It regretted that the state government had refused to implement earlier agreements entered with the union concerning workers welfare.
Labour had on Friday, announced it would be embarking on a nationwide strike after President of MLC, Joe Ajaero was arrested and brutalized in Imo during a protest.
The labour centres gave some conditions for calling of the strike which included, investigation and deployment of the Commissioner of Police in Imo; sack of the Area Commander of the Police and all other Officers and Men in Owerri through whom the Police Commissioner supervised the the attack; as well as the arrest and immediate prosecution of Mr Nwaneri Chinasa, aid to Uzodinma.
They also asked for an immediate, independent and unbiased thorough professional medical examination of all victims of the attack; immediate restoration of all properties lost and urgent implementation of all the outstanding Industrial Relations agreements previously entered with the state government.
The document read in parts: “The Nigeria Labour Congress (NIC) and the Trade Union Congress ofNigeria (TUC) joint National Executive Council (NEC) convened to conduct a comprehensive review of the progress made in executing its directive to initiate an industrial action in Imo state.
“This decision was prompted by a series of infractions and encroachments on the rights of workers within the state.During the meeting, the council deliberated on the distressing incident involving the abduction and assault of the NIC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero.
“Additionally, the council addressed the appalling acts of violence and bloodshed inflicted upon him and fellow workers, who had assembled at the NIC Imo State Secretariat in compliance with the directive on Imo state. These acts were perpetrated by the Imo state Government, acting under the guidance of the Governor and in collaboration with the Nigeria Police.
“The Joint NEC-in-session unanimously condemned in very strong terms the brutal and beastly actions of Hope Uzodimma, his goons and the Nigeria Police.
To this end, the joint NC/TUC NEC-in-session observed that whereas:
“The decision to embark on an industrial action in Imo state was purely in keeping with our earlier resolution; the Imo state Government under Hope Uzodimma heartlessly continues in its abuse of the rights and privileges of workers in the state as well as Refusal to Implement Previous Agreements.
“Consequently, the NIC/TUC NEC-in-Session resolved a s follows: To order the immediate withdrawal of services and shutdown of Imo state beginning midnight today. All workers and affiliates are expected to ensure compliance from wherever they are.
“All flights into and out of Imo state, fuel supplies and Electricity be stopped immediately as applicable. All Public and Private Sector workers are to immediately down tools indefinitely.
“That if our demands are still unmet, workers all over the federation shall join in withdrawing their services by Midnight Tuesday, the 14th of November, 2023. All State Council of NLC and TUC and affiliates are by this resolution mandated to ensure full compliance with NEC’s decision”