
03/11/2023
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has reported that its President, Joe Ajaero, is in critical condition and may need to be flown abroad for medical examination after he was allegedly beaten, brutalized, and battered by agents of the state, including policemen in Owerri, the Imo State capital. The attack occurred during a scheduled protest over pending labor issues, including unpaid salaries, allowances, pensions, gratuities, and non-compliance with the National Minimum Wage Act. Ajaero and other labor leaders were physically assaulted, and their personal belongings were confiscated. The NLC and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) leaders are set to meet to decide on an appropriate response to the attack. Former presidential candidate Peter Obi condemned the incident, describing it as lawlessness, impunity, criminality, and rascality, reflecting the deteriorating state of affairs in the country.