Railway Workers Stand Ready for Battle in Response to Assault on NLC President

The Nigerian railway workers are poised to engage in a conflict with the Imo State Government following the violent attack on Mr. Joe Ajaero, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Wednesday. These dedicated workers, who are members of the Nigeria Union of Railway Workers (NUR), have expressed their unwavering commitment to follow any directives issued by the NLC in response to the assault on Ajaero.

Characterizing the attack as barbaric and allegedly orchestrated by the Imo State Government, Comrade Segun Esan, the Secretary General of NUR, condemned the assault and the purported kidnapping of Ajaero. He firmly called upon the Federal Government, Imo State authorities, and the Imo State Police Command to identify and apprehend the individuals responsible for this assault on the foremost labor leader in the nation. Esan stressed the importance of preventing such an attack from happening again in the future.

In Esan’s view, the gathering of workers to peacefully protest against perceived injustices is a constitutionally protected right that does not contravene any laws or the Nigerian Constitution. He expressed his bewilderment at the vicious attack on the union leaders, asserting that it was a premeditated act of injustice. Esan declared, “It is indeed a national shame that Ajaero, who is the most significant person in the hierarchy of Nigerian workers, representing the constitutional right to protest in this country, could be treated like a common criminal for merely defending the rights, welfare, and well-being of Imo State workers who have been subjected to gross violations and mistreatment by the Imo State government.”

The NUR Secretary General called upon the Federal Government, the Imo State Government, and the Imo State Police Command to identify and apprehend the instigators and the thugs responsible for this act against Nigerian workers. He emphasized that such actions should be prevented from recurring in the nation’s political landscape to restore trust and confidence in the police and other national security agencies.

The Violent Attack

The attack unfolded when thugs descended on labor leaders and protesters in Imo State, causing chaos, damaging vehicles, inflicting injuries, and robbing labor leaders and others of their possessions, including cell phones, money, and ATM cards. This attack occurred at the NLC state secretariat where labor leaders and protesters had gathered to initiate a planned protest against various labor-related issues.

The NLC President, alongside other national leaders of NLC and their counterparts from the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), had assembled at the State Secretariat in Owerri to launch the scheduled protest, which aimed to address pending labor concerns. These concerns included unpaid salaries, outstanding allowances, and other grievances that Imo State workers had against the government.

The alleged wrongdoings of the Imo State Government that contributed to the unrest included its failure to honor previous agreements, unresolved salary arrears, unfounded designations of workers as “ghost workers,” the destruction of the NLC state secretariat, implementation of discriminatory pay structures, and unpaid gratuity arrears.

The turmoil began at approximately 8 a.m. on Wednesday when workers were arriving at the NLC state secretariat to participate in the protest. Suddenly, a group of thugs arrived in approximately ten minivans, armed with dangerous weapons. They stormed the secretariat and initiated an attack on labor leaders and workers, causing them to disperse in fear.

It is crucial for authorities to address the concerns of the Nigerian railway workers and labor leaders in the face of this violent attack. The peaceful exercise of the right to protest and demand fair treatment and workers’ rights is a fundamental aspect of any democratic society. The workers and their representatives are rightfully demanding justice and accountability from the government to prevent such incidents from recurring in the future. The rule of law and respect for the rights of workers are fundamental principles that should be upheld to ensure a just and equitable society for all. Infostride News will continue to monitor developments in this matter and provide updates as they become available.