THE National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, said on Wednesday, November 15, that some suspected assailants of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) president Joe Ajero had been arrested.
Ribadu urged the leadership of the labour unions to suspend their ongoing nationwide strike, highlighting the implications of the action on the livelihood of ordinary Nigerians and its potential impact on the economy, security, and other strategic national interests.
The labour unions, consisting of the NLC, Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), and several other affiliate bodies, on Tuesday, November 14, commenced a total indefinite strike over the attack on Ajaero in Imo state when he led other congress members to protest the “non-payment of salaries and pensions for 44 months and violation of other labour rights.”
The NLC blamed the attack on the Imo state government and the state Police command.
The unions, however, demanded the arrest and prosecution of some of the state Governor Hope Uzodinma’s aides and the replacement of the former Imo state police commissioner.
Meanwhile, a statement by the Head of Strategic Communication Office of the National Security Adviser, Zakari Mijinyawa, on Wednesday said the NSA had intervened in the assault and had directed a thorough investigation into the attack.
“The NSA regrets the incident and condemns it in its entirety as it was against the rule of law and the principles of freedom of association and expression subscribed to by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his administration.
“As a fallout of the incident, relevant authorities were directed to conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the assault and bring to book the culprits,” the statement added.
According to the statement, some arrests have already been made over the incident. It noted that the outcome of the investigation would be made public as soon as it is concluded.
Ribadu appealed to the labour leadership to call off the current strike and allow the ongoing dialogue process to be exhausted.
Usman Mustapha is a solution journalist with International Centre for Investigative Reporting. You can easily reach him via: [email protected]. He tweets @UsmanMustapha_M