The Imo State Government says the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) may soon disintegrate under its new President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, except something is urgently done by the workers to save the situation.
The Imo State Government stated that Ajaero has not only enmeshed the new executive into avoidable partisan politics but has a hidden agenda detrimental to the welfare of Nigerian workers.
Reacting to the allegations by Ajaero that the government meddled in the election of the state chapter of the NLC, the Imo State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Declan Emelumba, accused him of “lying to cover his dirty role in the sordid affair”.
“Apart from being a pathological liar, available information to government is that it was Ajaero himself that actually disrupted the election because he wanted to impose his stooge on the workers.
“Instead of allowing the normal delegates to cast their votes in accordance with laid down rules, Ajaero suddenly changed the rules at the last minute, which the workers resisted,” Emelumba was quoted as saying in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the Governor, Oguwike Nwachuku.
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He noted that when it became obvious that Ajaero wanted to impose one George from his local government as the NLC chairman in Imo against the wishes of the majority, the workers rose against the NLC leadership and insisted that the elections will not hold.
He denied the allegations that some government officials attacked some delegates, insisting that no government official was at the venue of the election.
“It is unfortunate that a reputable labour union like NLC now has a President that is not only clannish but impulsive and a liar as well,” the commissioner added.
He disclosed that the security agents went to the venue to restore law and order when it was obvious that Ajaero had lost control of the situation.
Emelumba described Ajaero as “a divisive leader who, few years ago, had formed a pararrel United Labour Congress when he lost the presidential election of NLC.
“We should really know what this man wants. He is not up to two months in office and his focus is to destabilize the states in his home zone. He started with Ebonyi, went to Abia, and now causing havoc in his home state of Imo,” he added.
Emelumba said the security report available to the state government showed that Ajaero signed an agreement with George to make the state ungovernable for Governor Hope Uzodimma.
“To confirm that fact, both Ajaero and George whom he has illegally installed as caretaker chairman” have asked workers to go on strike for no just cause.
“We don’t have any trade dispute with workers. We are not owing them any salary. We are now working on their promotion. So under which basis will they go on strike?” the commissioner said.
He, therefore, urged the workers to ignore such calls, saying the Imo State Government remains committed to a robust working relationship with union members.
