CITIZENS COMPASS —Few days after the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, was reportedly picked up and beaten by some heavily armed uniform men in Owerri, Imo State, the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have announced another nationwide strike to protest the beaten. 

Both unions on Tuesday, November 7, 2023, ordered their members to embark on the nationwide strike beginning from November 14, 2023. 

According to reports, the leadership of the unions reached the resolution after an extraordinary National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Abuja on Tuesday.

They said nationwide mobilisation of members and allies had begun immediately.

The announcement comes days after Joe Ajaero, the president of NLC, was reportedly picked up from the Imo council secretariat of the congress in Owerri by heavily armed police officers.

The NLC in a statement had said Ajaero was beaten and blindfolded immediately after he was arrested by security operatives.

The union said the phones and personal belongings taken from the NLC president have not been returned.

However, the Imo police command said Ajaero was not arrested but was taken into protective custody to avoid being lynched by a mob.

The police said the NLC president had a heated argument with some individuals who resisted the picketing of tthe Imo airport.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) had condemned the attack on Ajaero.

Tony Ojukwu, executive secretary of NHRC, said perpetrators of the brutality on Ajaero must be held accountable to serve as a deterrent to others, adding that it is improper to forcefully arrest unarmed citizens.