NLC suspends strike in Imo state

The strike by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Imo state has been suspended.

After a two-day standoff with the state government over the non-payment of arrears in salaries and pensions and claimed involvement in the election of the state executives of the congress, the NLC President Joe Ajaero issued a statement directing employees in the state to return to work.

According to Ajaero's statement, the NLC decided to call off the strike as a result of the involvement of various notable individuals and the need to prevent disruption of Imo state's State Assembly election on Saturday.

He said: “The suspension of the strike is expected to last two weeks during which the state government and its agencies are expected to meet the demands of the workers in the state”.

The strike will resume with "greater ferocity" if the window provided by the suspension of the strike is not taken advantage of, according to Ajaero.

The NLC had stated that it began the industrial action on Wednesday in Imo state to protest the non-payment of its members' 20-month salary arrears.

Additionally, it stated that the move was taken in retaliation for the state government's use of governmental tools to terrorize employees.

The labour movement added that the brigandage of the state administration and security forces against workers in the state who peacefully gathered on Tuesday to conduct the State Delegates Conference of the Congress was what led to the state-wide strike.