In response to the nationwide strike declared by union leaders following the assault on Nigeria Labour Congress President Joe Ajaero, the Federal Government has criticized organized labor, deeming the strike as detrimental to the nation’s interests. Kamarudeen Ogundele, the Special Assistant to the Minister of Justice and the Attorney-General of the Federation, expressed concerns during an interview on Arise Television.
Ogundele emphasized that declaring a strike at this juncture would impede the country’s economic recovery and hinder progress in various sectors. He argued that the government is not promoting violence and highlighted that the labor unions have not implicated the president in the incident.
However, Trade Union Congress President Festus Osifo countered, pointing out that the Governor of Imo state, Hope Uzodimma, had not apologized for the assault on Ajaero. The nationwide strike, declared by organized labor in protest against the alleged brutalization of the NLC president in Imo State, exhibited partial compliance across several states on Tuesday.
While workers in Lagos, Rivers, Kwara, Bauchi, and other states largely ignored the strike, some states like Anambra, Ondo, Kaduna, Borno, and Ogun experienced partial observance. Banks, schools, and government offices in Lagos operated normally, with business activities proceeding uninterrupted.
In Imo State, the epicenter of the controversy, the strike had varying effects. Some institutions, like the Lagos State University, continued with ongoing examinations, while others reported partial compliance.
The strike’s impact was also evident in other states, where banks, schools, and government offices faced varying degrees of compliance. The situation prompted statements from labor leaders, indicating their determination to enforce compliance and monitor the strike’s progress.
In some states like Rivers and Bayelsa, however, there was no notable compliance, with schools, banks, and government offices operating normally. Similarly, in Zamfara, workers expressed dissent, highlighting a perceived self-interest among union leaders.
The strike further revealed regional disparities, with full compliance reported in states like Plateau, Edo, Delta, and Niger, while others, including Akwa Ibom, Osun, Ebonyi, Cross River, and Niger, demonstrated partial success.
Amidst the ongoing strike, the NLC dismissed accusations of attempting to blackmail the Presidency. The Congress, in a statement, urged the government to acknowledge the patience exhibited by organized labor, especially in the wake of public hardship resulting from the removal of the petrol subsidy. The NLC criticized statements from the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Chief Bayo Onanuga, calling them unwarranted and bellicose.