The Organised Labour has threatened to call for an immediate nationwide strike following the arrest of the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, in Owerri, the Imo state capital.

Ajaero was picked up on Wednesday from the NLC State Council Secretariat by heavily armed policemen and taken to an unknown destination.

Imo State Police Command denied arresting the labour leader on Wednesday afternoon.

Ajaero’s arrest comes days after the National Industrial Court had stopped the NLC and the Trades Union Congress (TUC) from carrying out any protest in Imo state.

In a joint statement signed by the NLC General Secretary, Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja and TUC’s Comrade Nuhu Toro, the two labour unions put workers on alert for an immediate nationwide action if Ajaero is not released by the end of Wednesday.

“We call on Nigerian workers, wherever they may be; in the respective industrial Unions; the state Councils and the Branches to be on alert for an immediate nationwide action if by the end of today, the President of the Congress is not released,” the statement read.

“We cannot be at work while our President is in the gulag and we cannot be at peace when the Government of Imo state continues to disrespect workers and treat them with utter disdain.

“With this statement, we want to put the Nigerian Government on notice that we want the President of Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) immediately released.

“The injuries meted to him must be treated forthwith and his freedom to lead Nigerian workers in a peaceful protest guaranteed.

“This is what we demand as we proceed to the meetings of the various Organs to take decisions on further steps that will be taken. If this is not heeded now, anything that happens in the Country, the Governor of Imo State and the Police Commissioner must be held responsible.”

The Organised Labour stated that Nigeria is a country of Laws and especially the leaders must learn to work within its ambits.

They urged the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Egbetokun who is in Imo to call his operatives to order to avoid loss of lives, properties and further injuries on innocent workers in the state.

The NLC and TUC said that “workers in Imo state must be free and we must all join hands to ensure that this happens.”
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