Imo State Police Command officers have apprehended Joe Ajaero, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC). Ajaero was taken into custody during an ongoing protest in Imo State. According to Vanguard, this occurred as a group of troublemakers attacked the protesters, damaging vehicles and causing injuries to labor union members.
At the time of reporting, the whereabouts of the NLC President remain unknown, as heavily armed security personnel removed him from the scene. Ajaero had earlier instructed all Union and affiliate Union members to stage a comprehensive shutdown of all sectors in Imo State, including air, land, and sea, as they initiated their protest.
Ajaero announced the commencement of the protest following a late-night Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting held on October 31, 2023, in Owerri, the state capital. The NLC President accused Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma of violating and neglecting the welfare of workers. He alleged that due to the governor’s hostile actions towards state workers, many of them have suffered and even died due to unpaid salaries. Ajaero also expressed frustration over the state government’s failure to adhere to the national minimum wage and its refusal to implement previous agreements, particularly the one reached on January 9, 2021.