NSA Invites Striking Labour Leaders For Talks

The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, has summoned a meeting with the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress over the ongoing nationwide strike.

Though it is not clear whether the labour leaders will attend the meeting, the National President of the TUC, Festus Osifo during an interview with Arise Television on Tuesday noted that the labour leaders remain open to “reasonable and sincere” dialogue.

“A meeting has been summoned by the office of the NSA and it is slated for this afternoon,” a source familiar with the matter told newsmen.

Ribadu had on Wednesday morning said some suspects had been arrested in connection with the attack on the President of NLC, Joe Ajaero.

The NSA, who expressed concern over the ongoing industrial action by said investigation had since commenced on the matter.

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The ongoing strike is to protest the battering of Ajaero, and some other executives of the congress in Owerri, Imo State, on November 1, as well as the pending labour issues in Imo State.

Ajaero was arrested by the police ahead of a state-wide protest in Imo, as disclosed by the NLC’s Head of Information, Benson Upah.

Although the police denied arresting Ajaero, stating that he was merely taken into protective custody to prevent a mob attack, the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, accused the labour leader of meddling in the political affairs of the state.

The NLC and TUC later wrote their affiliates such as the Academic Staff Union of Universities, National Union of Electricity Employees, Nigeria Union of Teachers, Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria and Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics among others ahead of the nationwide strike.