Babatunji Wusu –
Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser (NSA), announced on Wednesday, November 15, that the attackers of Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) President Joe Ajaero had been apprehended.
The NSA also urged organized labor to call off the ongoing statewide strike, expressing concern about the impact of the strike on Nigerians’ livelihoods and the country’s economic security.
In a statement issued by Zakari Mijinyawa, Head of Strategic Communications in the Office of the NSA, Ribadu urged for the strike to be called off and the arrest of those responsible for the Ajaero attack to be made public.
The federal government and President Bola Tinubu’s administration, according to the statement, would not tolerate lawlessness, as demonstrated by the recent attack on Ajaero during a protest in Owerri, Imo State.
Ribadu, who called on Labour union leaders to call off their statewide strike while a probe into the assault on the NLC president is ongoing, urged the bodies to enable ongoing conversations to be exhausted.
He also stated that the findings of the ongoing inquiry into the incident would be made public as soon as possible.
“The NSA is particularly concerned about the implications of the strike action on the livelihood of ordinary Nigerians, as well as its potential impact on economic security and other strategic national interests,” the statement stated.
“As attested by the NLC leadership, the NSA intervened immediately upon learning of the travails of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) President, Comrade Joseph Ajaero, who was assaulted in Owerri, Imo State.”
“The NSA regrets and condemns the incident in its entirety because it violated the rule of law and the principles of freedom of association and expression that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his administration subscribe to.”
“The federal government will never support an action of such nature. As a result of the occurrence, the appropriate authorities were instructed to look into the details of the assault and apprehend those responsible.
According to the current update, some arrests have already been made. As soon as the inquiry is over, the results will be made available to the public.
“Therefore, the labor leadership is urged by the federal government, acting through the Office of the NSA, to halt the current strike action and give the ongoing dialogue process time to be completed.”
