Organised labour, Friday, declared a one day nationwide strike on Wednesday, November 8, to protest the attack on the President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero in Imo State, on Wednesday.

The Labour also demanded the immediate redeployment of rhr State Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Bardw, from Imo State.

This was disclosed to journalists at the Labour House Abuja by the General Secretary of the Trade Union Congress TUC, Nuhu Toro, who was accompanied by other officials of NLC.

According to the Labour Leaders, Ajero was arrested, brutalised and received death threat before he was rescues by the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, who ordered his immediate release.

He said, “Comrade Joe Ajaero was blind folded, beaten to a pulp, brutalised, humiliated, and violated by the police personnel and taken to an unknown destination where he was subjected to more battering and torture as well as threatened with death before help came his way via the National Security Adviser; Mr Nuhu Ribadu who ordered for his immediate release.

“However, due to the severity of his injuries, the police had to take him to the Police Hospital where we made contact with him at 3:30 pm. At the time of our first contact with Comrade Joe Ajaero, his right eye was puffed, black and shut, one of his ears has tiny trace of dried blood, his speech was slurred and incoherent.

“He had welts all over him. He did not recognise the people around him and could not walk without being aided or supported. Inevitably, he had to be taken to Federal Medical Centre, Owerri for more investigation.”

Other demands by both NLC and TUC members include immediate implementation of different industrial relations agreements reached, thorough and unbiased medical examination for Ajaero, among others.

The TUC Scribe said, “We further resolved that in the event the Government fails to comply with any or all of the conditions above-stated, NLC, TUC and their affiliates will no longer guarantee industrial peace in Nigeria beginning Wednesday the 8th of November, 2023 while a joint National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the two Labour Centres will meet to decide on the next course of action.