National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has confirmed that some suspects are now in custody over the November 1, 2023, attack and brutalisation of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, in Imo State.
Mallam Ribadu, who spoke ahead of the decision by the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and NLC to suspend their indefinite industrial action, also assured that investigations had already commenced on the matter and the culprits would certainly be brought to book.
Head of Strategic Communications, Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Zakari Mijinyawa, said in a statement titled; “NSA Urges Labour to Rescind Strike, Condemns Attack on NLC President”, that “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.
“An available update indicates that some arrests have already been made in this regard. The outcome of the investigation will be made public as soon as it is concluded.”
Offering information on how the NSA-led Federal Government negotiation team was able to convince Organised Labour to suspend its indefinite strike, the statement further said; “The Office of the National Security Adviser is concerned by the declaration of a nationwide strike by the leadership of the Organised Labour led by the NLC and TUC. The NSA is particularly worried about the implications of the strike action on the livelihood of ordinary Nigerians and its potential impact on economic security and other strategic national interests.
“As attested by the NLC leadership, the NSA immediately intervened on learning about the travails of the President of the Nigerian Labour Congress Joseph Ajaero who was assaulted in Owerri, Imo State.
”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. The Federal Government will never condone such an act. ”
“The NSA assured that the outcome of the investigation would be made public, appealing to the unions to call off the strike. 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. An available update indicates that some arrests have already been made in this regard. The outcome of the investigation will be made public as soon as it is concluded.
“The Federal Government, through the Office of the NSA, therefore appeals to the labour leadership to call off the current strike action and allow the dialogue process underway to be exhausted,” the statement read further.
Insiders at the meeting hinted NSA Ribadu’s intervention did much to end the nationwide action of Organised labour, with his assurances that the government would get to the root of the matter.
Late on Wednesday evening, one of the Labour officials was full of commendation for Ribadu, saying; “We have considered all the appeals made to us by the NSA during our meeting in his office. We shall give him time to coordinate the investigations as promised.”
The General Secretary of Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employee (AUPCTRE), Comrade Sikiru Waheed, who also confirmed the major role played by Ribadu to journalists, said the NSA was sincere in begging the Labour Movement to rescind its decisions on the nationwide strike action, even as he condemned the Owerri attack on the labour leaders.
