In a bid to address the escalating nationwide strike, the Nigerian government, facilitated by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), is currently in discussions with leaders from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria. The meeting, scheduled for Wednesday afternoon in Abuja, includes key figures such as the Minister of Labour, Simon Lalong, and Minister of State for Labour, Nkeiruka Onyeajocha.
The labour leaders present at the meeting are TUC President, Festus Osifo, and NLC Secretary-General, Emmanuel Ugboaja. The urgency of the talks stems from the ongoing nationwide strike initiated by Organised Labour in response to the brutal attack on NLC President, Joe Ajaero, and other national leaders in Owerri, Imo State capital.
SK Blog has previously highlighted six demands presented by the NLC as conditions for considering the cessation of the strike. These demands include the arrest and prosecution of Mr. Chinasa Nwaneri, the Special Adviser on Special Duties to Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State, who is alleged to have orchestrated the attack on workers.
Furthermore, the NLC calls for the apprehension, prosecution, and dismissal of all police officers involved in the assault on Ajaero and workers in Imo State. The labour union insists on the arrest and prosecution of the thugs responsible for the attack, along with the Chief Security Officer of Imo State Government House, SP Shaba, who is accused of leading and supporting the assailants.
Additional demands put forth by the NLC include the arrest, prosecution, and dismissal of the Police Area Commander implicated in the brutalization of the national President and other workers. The final demand centers around the investigation and prosecution of the former Imo State Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmed Barde.