Labour declares total nationwide strike Tuesday

The leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress and that of the Trade Union Congress have jointly declared a total nationwide strike commencing Tuesday, November 14, 2023.

The organised labour made the declaration Tuesday, after an extraordinary National Executive Council meeting between leaders of the sister unions in Abuja.

This is according to an official who spoke under the condition of anonymity because he was not permitted to disclose details ahead of a scheduled press release by the labour centres.

Meanwhile, the leadership of the NLC and the TUC had reportedly summoned what the unions described as an extraordinary NEC meeting which it was gathered, was aimed at reviewing the modalities of the planned strike following the brutalisation of the National President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero.

Also, was a need to review of the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Federal Government and the organised labour on October 2, 2023, following the removal of the subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit which the labour centres said has caused “untold hardship” to Nigerians.

The labour unions had, on Friday, issued a five-day ultimatum over the earlier arrest of the National President of the NLC, by the police in Owerri, Imo State, on Wednesday, demanding the redeployment of the commissioner of police in the state and the arrest and prosecution of the aide of the government who was alleged to have perpetrated the attack.

The unions also threatened to embark on a nationwide industrial action if their demands were not met in five days from Friday.

In another development, no fewer than 10 people have been reportedly killed by bandits in the Ukoosaa-Atam community in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State.

According to reports, the attack was a reprisal by one of the popular rival bandit groups battling for supremacy in the area.

Identified as Chain and Full Force, the rival bandit groups both from Ukum LGA, engaged in a battle of supremacy on Friday. This led to the death of 15 of them afterwhich the battle for supremacy have continued with series of reprisals.

According to sources, innocent people were this time around, victimized in the course of the attack.

Speaking with news men on Tuesday, a native of Ukoosaa-Atam who did not mention his name said the gunmen rode motorcycles and attacked innocent people.

His words; “Some local bandits on Monday rode to Ukoosa-Atam, a kilometre after Ayati town, headquarters of Borikyo council ward, Ukum LGA.

“The gunmen came and attacked a Keke NAPEP,  killing all the passengers and the driver. The gunmen rode on motorcycles and were shooting indiscriminately, and they also attacked the surrounding houses in the village, at the end of the day 10 corpses were found.”

The source added, “This is one among the several attacks on the community.

Another local source said, “Since Chain and Full Force fought over supremacy last Friday, it has been one attack or the other within the local government.”

The locals, however, called on both the state and federal governments to provide security in Ukum LGA.

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Catherine Anene, said she was out of town.

Meanwhile, the State Security Adviser, Joseph Har, who said  the government was aware of the situation in Ukum LGA, noted that the administration of Governor Hyacinth Alia was doing everything possible to restore peace in the area and across the state.

Har said, “Government is working seriously to tackle the security challenges in the state, particularly, in Sankera axis, (nay Ukum LGA) We are going to use carrots and sticks approach.”

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