Hope Uzodimma
On Thursday, Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, accused the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, of interfering in the state’s political affairs.
He asserted that this was an attempt to pressure his government regarding alleged unpaid salaries, emphasizing that all state workers have indeed received their rightful wages.
Uzodimma shared these remarks while speaking to State House correspondents following his reception of the All Progressives Congress’ flag from President Bola Tinubu at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja.
“What has happened in this ugly coincidence is that the National President of the Nigeria Labour Congress is from Imo State and has not been able to demarcate the difference between being a national leader of an organisation and then an interested party in local politics,” he said.
On Wednesday, the NLC expressed strong displeasure after its President, Ajaero, was apprehended by the police in Owerri, the capital of Imo State. Ajaero was reportedly in the state to rally NLC members for a comprehensive strike set to commence on Wednesday.
During a press conference on Sunday, Ajaero accused the Imo State government of infringing on the rights of Nigerian workers in the state and consequently pledged to galvanize union members in the state for a complete work stoppage.
The Head of Information for the NLC, Benson Upah, confirmed Ajaero’s arrest to The PUNCH, stating that he was taken from the state NLC secretariat to an undisclosed location.
Governor Uzodimma, however, explained his intervention, emphasizing that he prevented the national leadership of the NLC from dissolving the Imo State chapter of the Congress.
He said, “I understand the sensitivity of this event (protest). But I want you people to be careful because there is an attempt to mix up partisan politics or an attempt to blackmail my government.
“I can tell you that my people are already aware; that was why the NLC Imo State chapter addressed a world press conference that what their national leadership is doing is not correct and that they are not going to embark on any strike or protest.
“In the process, they decided to dissolve them to put in a caretaker. Of course, I’m the Chief Security Officer and I have a responsibility to intervene. I encourage the national leadership not to dissolve a management team that their tenure has not expired, and that was what they did.”
The governor, who said he does not interfere in labour matters, said he has convinced his “workers in Imo State to believe in me, and that trust is what opposition parties are trying to fight.”
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