Senator Adams Oshiomhole, representing Edo North, expressed his disapproval of the recent protest organized by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Imo State. The protest, led by NLC President Joe Ajaero, resulted in a series of events that culminated in a nationwide strike by organized labor. The strike was called off yesterday.
During a television program appearance, Oshiomhole, a former NLC president himself, criticized Ajaero’s involvement in the election of the NLC chairman in Imo State. Ajaero was arrested on November 1 while participating in a protest and strike action, and was released hours later with visible injuries, prompting allegations of torture against the Imo State Police Command.
Oshiomhole cited Ajaero’s ban on transportation out of Imo State as a reason for his disagreement with the protest. He questioned the timing of the strike, stating that if the goal was to remove the governor, allowing the people to vote would have been more appropriate. Oshiomhole also noted that this was not the first time Ajaero and the governor of Imo State had clashed, but the issues at hand were not clear.
The senator argued that the NLC president should remain impartial and not involve himself in small issues, especially when they concern his own state. He pointed out that the strike should have been limited to Imo State and that the NLC should only call for a national strike when the issue at hand is of national importance.
While Oshiomhole condemned the attack on the NLC president, he did not believe it warranted a national strike. Instead, he advised the NLC to focus on defending workers’ rights and pushing for the payment of the additional N35,000 wage award, which was agreed upon by the federal and state governments a few months ago.
