Ajaero attack: MWUN awaits NLC’s decision on strike as ultimatum ends

As the ultimatum by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) to embark on nationwide strike following last Monday’s attack on its President, Comrade Joe Ajaero ends by midnight today, the President General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Comrade Adewale Adeyanju said the union is awaiting the decision of the NLC National Executive Council (NEC) to know the next line of action.

Comrade Adeyanju who spoke while fielding questions from journalists in Lagos on Monday said the NLC NEC will meet today (Tuesday) to take a final decision on the impending strike.

Adeyanju, who is also the National Vice President of the NLC, described the manhandling of the NLC President by the Nigeria Police in Imo State as an embarrassment never known in the history of the nation’s labour movement.

According to him, “What happened in Imo State was an embarrassment to the labour movement and to the whole Nigerian workers.

“It has never happened in the history of the Nigeria Labour Congress that the leader – the No.1 worker that was democratically elected by his workers is subjected to such an act of embarrassment.

“They blindfolded the old man as if he was a slave in his own state. When you are a governor who is supposed to be the state’s No.1 security officer, know that there is no permanent governor.

“They need to have at the back of their minds that they would one day become former governors, when much of this impunity they exhibit today will no longer be there. What they did in Imo State was not right. It was uncalled for.”

Adeyanju said though one of the demands by the labour movement to remove the Imo State Police Commissioner has been met by the Inspector-General of Police, the NEC, which is the highest organ of the NLC, would at the meeting today give a directive on the next line of action to take.

“It is a serious matter. The commissioner who ought to protect the people did not behave like a professional. Even though he has been removed, I don’t want to preempt the decision of the NEC

“The second demand is the welfare of workers in the state, where salaries, pensions and gratuities have not been paid for about 20 months. It is what the labour movement is talking about. It is not about Ajaero, it is about the fundamental human rights of all the workers in that state.

“For Ajaero, who is from the state, it is about charity beginning at home. So, nobody should blame him. He could have said, ‘well, what is my business?’ It is about the welfare of workers in the state who cannot express themselves because the governor has padlocked their mouths in their suffering.

“No one is safe in Imo State, not even the journalists who are being harassed with handcuffs on their hands. Going to Imo State now is like a dog going to a lion’s den because of the governor.” he said.