NLC Strike: Total Blackout, Flights Cancelled In Imo

Following the withdrawal of services by affiliates of the Nigerian Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress in Imo state, the Imo state government has again lashed out on the NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, accusing him of using the Labour platform to fight a personal war.

This followed the immediate shutdown of power supply and flight services in Imo state after the NLC had accused the state government of deploying thugs and armed operatives to disrupt the Workers Day rally at the Labour House in Owerri.

In his reaction, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Hon. Declan Emelumba said government had no issues with the Organized Labour in Imo state but stressed that the NLC national President was bent on fomenting industrial crisis in Imo state.

His words: “It is indeed curious that Joe Ajaero has chosen to be the de-facto Chairman of NLC in Imo State, instead of the National President. Otherwise, why did he dissipate all his energy to pour vituperation on Governor Hope Uzodinma, instead of addressing burning national issues affecting Nigerian workers?”

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He continued: “The National Executive Council of NLC must not allow him to use a noble organization such as NLC as a platform to fight his personal and clannish political battles in Imo state. They must also not allow him to create an atmosphere of rancour in the country at this time of transition. It is worth mentioning that Ajaero’s unbridled political ambition once turned the NLC to a divided house with daggers drawn.  He must not be allowed to precipitate that inglorious infamy a second time as the NLC may not recover from a second fall.

“His Lilliputian efforts to blackmail both the governor and the workers have failed, going by the award bestowed on His Excellency by the workers. This was done in utter scorn of his lame propaganda against the Governor and his administration.

“It is unfortunate that Joe Ajaero has been blinded by political and pecuniary considerations to continue to stoke the embers of discord in Imo State, his home state, as if that was the sole reason he was nominated the President of NLC.”

However, the NLC in Imo state has said that Uzodinma and his administration are the aggressors having severally disrupted their peaceful rallies and forcefully dispersed their members at the Labour House.

The Imo state Chairman of NLC, Comrade George Ofoegbu said in a telephone conversation with our correspondent, that the union has absolutely nothing to do with the purported endorsement of the Governor and has firmly distanced itself from the charade.

Checks by our correspondent showed that there has been total shut down of power supply in Owerri since Tuesday morning.