Ajaero: NLC, TUC declare nationwide strike over brutality

The Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) have issued orders for their members to go on a nationwide strike starting on November 14.

The resolution was reached by the labour body leaders following an extraordinary national executive council (NEC) meeting that took place in Abuja on Tuesday, according to Channels TV.

According to the unions, members and allies have already started to mobilise across the country.

The news was made a few days after it was reported that heavily armed police officers had picked up NLC president Joe Ajaero from the Imo council secretariat of the congress in Owerri.

Ajaero was immediately beaten and blindfolded by security personnel after being taken into custody, according to a statement released by the NLC.

The NLC president's phones and other personal items were taken, according to the union, and they have not been returned.

The Imo police command, however, stated that Ajaero was placed in protective custody rather than being arrested in order to prevent a mob lynching.

The NLC president reportedly got into a heated argument with some people who opposed the picketing of the Imo airport, according to the police.

The assault on Ajaero had been denounced by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

The NHRC's executive secretary, Tony Ojukwu, stated that it is wrong to forcibly detain unarmed individuals and that those responsible for the violence on Ajaero should be held accountable in order to serve as a warning to others.

Source