Hoodlums have descended on workers protest in Owerri, the Imo State capital, while police operatives arrested the President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, at the venue of the protest.
Emerging reports say the hoodlums, alleged to have been scrambled by the state government, attacked protesters, injuring them, and damaging cars there.
According to media reports, Ajaero had directed all members of the Union and affiliate unions to shut down all sectors in Imo State, including air, land, and sea, as the union commenced protest today.
Reports said that 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.
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 had 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.