Mr Joe Ajaero, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has been arrested by the Police at the ongoing protest over unpaid salaries in Imo State.
The whereabouts of the Labour President have remained unknown.
He was whisked away by security agents after miscreants infiltrated and hijacked the protests and unleashed mayhem on the state capital.
The organised labour had set aside November 1, for protest in Imo State over the alleged violation and abuse of rights and privileges of workers by the state government.
“NLC was deeply concerned about the persistent and egregious violations of the rights and privileges of workers in Imo State by the State Government.
“Despite our repeated efforts to engage in constructive dialogue and reach amicable agreements, the Imo State Government has become a habitual and serial breaker of these agreements, continuing to trample on the rights of workers in the state.
“As a result, we are left with no choice but to embark on mass protests and industrial actions beginning on the 1st day of November 2023.
“This is to demonstrate our outrage and stop the continuing violation of the rights and privileges of workers in the state,” Ajaero said.
In a related development, the NLC president, Comrade Joe Ajaero, has been said to had been hospitalised after being brutally attacked by police officers during a union protest in Imo state.
Ajaero’s right eye is completely shut, and he has suffered other injuries, according to NLC’s head of information and publicity, Comrade Benson Upah.
Upah said Ajaero was beaten, blindfolded and taken to an unknown destination, where he was further brutalised.
His phones, money, and other personal effects were also taken from him, this newspaper has learnt.
Upah said, “Contact has been made with Congress President, Comrade Joe Ajaero this evening around 15:30 hours at the Police Hospital in Owerri from where he was taken to Federal Medical Centre, Owerri where he is receiving medical attention.
