NASU rejects police claims of rescuing Ajaero

The Imo State Police Command’s operatives are said to have saved Nigeria Labour Congress President Joe Ajaero from a mob attack, but the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, or NASU, has dismissed these claims, stating that they lack credibility.

NASU denied the allegations that Ajaero was kept in “protective custody” for his own benefit, even as it denounced the assault on the NLC President last Wednesday.

He implored Bola Tinubu, the President, to institute a comprehensive probe into the assault and abuse of Ajaero and other individuals.

As a result of the Imo State Government’s alleged anti-labor practices, Ajaero was attacked in Imo on November 1, according to a statement released by NASU’s General Secretary, Prince Peters Adeyemi.

“A violation of trade union rights as well as Ajaero’s human rights,” according to Adeyemi, was what happened to the union leader.

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The 1999 Federal Republic of Nigeria Constitution (as amended) and the Conventions of the International Labour Organization (ILO) guarantee the rights that Ajaero was exercising in Owerri as the head of the country’s working people.

The International Labour Organization (ILO) Conventions on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise, 1948 (No.87), and the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining, 1949 (No.98), have been ratified by Nigeria as a member state.

Accusing the Imo government of unfair labor practices, Adeyemi is also the Deputy President of Public Service International, or PSI.

“It is not right to attack workers’ union leaders for asking why these monies have not been paid. The government hasn’t paid salaries and pensions,” he declared.
“Ajaero was on a solidarity visit to the workers in Imo and should not have been visited with tendencies which were common in Nigeria only during military regimes.

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“Ajaero’s alleged self-interest in being placed in protective custody is refuted by NASU. We implore Bola Tinubu, the president, to establish a comprehensive inquiry.

The guarantee that a crackdown would not be their lot in the event of a labor dispute between the government and labor unions would come from such intervention.