By Albert Akota
A Civil Society Organization (CSO), Initiative for Leadership and Economic Watch, has demanded that Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to carry out urgent self-check and assessment of its members that would, perhaps, herald changes particularly at leadership level over Imo state crisis..
The group accused NLC leadership, particularly its President, Joe Ajaero, of being partisan in his recent approach to labour related issues in the country particularly in the events of the last one week that nearly snowballed into a breakdown of law and order in Imo State.
Executive Director of the group Splendour Agbonkpolor, who addressed reporters in Abuja yesterday, suggested that Ajaero should be immediately suspended by NLC and investigated by the Police, DSS and other security agencies.
He said: “Let it be on record that Comrade Ajaero-led NLC has become a political arm of the Labour Party ready to blackmail, arm-twist and rain puerile machinations to disrupt the forthcoming democratic election in Imo State.
“Ajaearo has no right to stop the good people of Imo State from exercising their franchise, which is their inalienable right under democratic governance. Ajaero, in connivance with his ‘shenanigans’ are ready to dance the macabre dance and their aim is to blackmail the government and score cheap political points.
“We, hereby, urge the NLC to purge herself from partisanship as labour union are the last resort of the common man. It is time the union suspend Ajaero in order to restore the confidence of ordinary Nigerians who see labour unionism as a struggle for the enforcement of workers’ rights and entitlement.
“As concerned Civil Society Organisation, we cannot sit and watch while unscrupulous elements in the name of comradeship fan the ember of hate and perdition. We use this medium to call for overhauling of NLC as matter of urgency to purge the union of questionable elements who are trying to bring the labour union into disrepute by being politically induced to cause crisis during the election.”
Agbonkpolor, however, recall that on the 2nd of November, 2023, the labour leader, Comrade Ajaero, went on a berserk expedition, calling out law abiding Imo workers for a wild protest to invoke a security breach. “This means that Ajearo has missed the track and is taking the laws into his hands, and as such should be tamed not to further cause pandemonium in Imo state during the election.”
He encouraged citizens of Imo state to go about their lawful business, and also come out in their number and vote for the governorship candidate of their choice on Saturday.
