‘The NLC made a big mistake by openly aligning with a political party in the general elections, as that reduced them to partisans, which colours their genuine labour interests’
The attack of the president of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajero, in Owerri, Imo State, last week, should be condemned by all and sundry. While the police passed it off, as affray, arising from intra-labour union conflicts, the NLC insists that the attack was orchestrated by the police in cohorts with agents of Imo State government. Ajaero, had travelled to Owerri, to mobilize workers, to engage in a strike over unpaid salaries, against the state government.
Of note, a gubernatorial election is slated in Imo State, next Saturday, November 10, which is few days before the mobilization effort of the NLC president, and the incumbent governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, is contesting against Senator Athan Achonu of the Labour Party (LP), and Senator Samuel Anyanwu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as the top contenders. The police claim that when Ajaero landed at Sam Mbakwe airport, there was an attempt to start action at the airport, which was resisted by some workers, and in the ensuing ruckus, Ajaero was brutalized.
The Nigerian police was accused of arresting and detaining the comrade, and further beating him up in custody. On their part, the police claimed that Ajaero was taken into protective custody and later released. While some reports claim that the labour leader was admitted at the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, for treatment, other reports claimed that there were plans to fly him abroad, for better medical attention. On its part, the government of Imo State, like the biblical Pontus Pilate, washed its hands of the entire saga, pointing accusing fingers at intra-labour crisis.
The NLC and its affiliate, the Trade Union Congress (TUC), have called a strike for Wednesday, to protest the brutalization of Ajaero. They demanded the transfer of the Commissioner of Police, Imo State, which has been effected. The CP was accused of being complicit in the attack on the Comrade. On its part, the Imo State government approached the National Industrial Court, presided over by Hon. Justice Nelson Ogbuanya, which reaffirmed its restraining Order, forbidding the NLC from embarking on strike, while the matter in court is adjourned to November 30, well after the elections.
Hon. Justice Ogbuanya warned about consequences of any disobedience of the order of the court. But there are reports that some affiliate unions of the NLC have already embarked on strike, and there is apprehension that more affiliate unions may join on Wednesday. Obviously, it appears the initial attempt to corral a nation-wide strike to protest the brutalization of Ajaero, did not gain much traction. There are muted condemnation of the attack on Ajaero, across the country, as many public commentators, while condemning the attack, do not see it as an affront by the national government to warrant a nationwide strike.
Expectedly, the crisis has been framed by those opposed to the tactics of the new the new NLC president, Joe Ajaero, as political action aimed at promoting the interest of his preferred gubernatorial candidate, Senator Athan Achonu. Some non-partisan commentators, also framed his determination to call out workers of the Imo State government on strike, few days to a gubernatorial election as a partisan action aimed against the incumbent governor, which has backfired. Some others, argued that there are states like Benue, which owe workers several more months of arrears of salary, and yet the labour leader has not mobilized against such government.
To compound the issues raised against the union leader, because he is from Imo State, there is the presumption that beyond his affiliation to LP, he is an interested party in the outcome of the election. In a statement released by the NLC media, there is a claim that the state government and the police have sent thugs to invade the Azalla Owalla Emekuku community, in Owerri, Imo State, the hometown of Ajaero. The head of Media and Information, Comrade Benson Upah, made disparaging claims against the state governor and the transferred Commissioner of Police over the alleged attack.
He claimed that Ajaero’s community is under siege; an accusation the Imo State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Chief Declan Emelumba, described in unprintable terms. The state commissioner accused the NLC president of being a card-carrying member of LP, and engaging in conducts that have created divisions within the NLC in the state. With the accusations and counter-accusation being reduced to intra-communal affair, the NLC president is unwittingly reducing the national importance of his office. If he is properly advised, he should have recused himself from the affairs concerning Imo State, as whatever action he takes will be viewed from the prism of emotional interest.
For this writer, to unwittingly reduce the crisis between the labour unions and the government of Imo State, to a communal interest, is rather sad. Moreover, the claim by the NLC spokesperson, could spike an inter-communal clash in the state, as Ajaero’s kith and kin, may decide to attack the community, where the governor comes from in retaliation. So, from national to state, and now community interests, the NLC president should refrain from diminishing the high office he occupies. If the government of Hope Uzodimma, are pushing him in that direction, he should ignore it.
As the national leader of NLC, Ajaero should concentrate his energy on national issues. Before he proceeds to any state to engage in mobilization of workers, he ought to ensure that he is on the same page with the state labour leaders. Where he believes that the state unions have been emasculated, he should use the national organs to fight the cause. He cannot descend into a disputed arena, and hope to mobilize affiliate unions in the state successfully. Such a descent would make him a partisan, instead of a mediatory force.
As I have argued previously, the NLC made a big mistake by openly aligning with a political party in the general elections, as that reduced them to partisans, which colours their genuine labour interests. Again, that is happening in Imo State, as the NLC is being accused of acting the script of the LP, which they had openly supported. While individually, members of the labour unions are entitled to partisan politics, it becomes tricky, when as a body, the leadership seeks to corral every member to a particular political party.
Evidentially, the crisis in Imo State is being framed according to the interest of the parties. For the All Progressive Congress (APC)-led state government, NLC is acting the script of the LP. On its part, the LP has issued strong statements in support of the NLC. Some other state stalwarts have accused Ajaero of acting the script of the PDP. In the political contestation, the primary interest of the NLC, which is the protection of the interest of workers, recedes from the front burner to the backyard.
