NSA announces arrests over assault on NLC leader, urges labour to end strike

Some hoodlums who assaulted the President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joseph Ajero, in Owerri, Imo State, have been arrested by the security agencies.

This was disclosed by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) in a statement on Wednesday, saying that the NSA had directed relevant authorities to conduct thorough investigation into the incident and bring to book the culprits.

“Available update indicates that some arrests have already been made in this regard. The outcome of the investigation will be made public as soon as it is concluded,” the statement read.

The statement, which was signed by the Head of Strategic Communications in the ONSA, Mr. Olusegun Adeyemi, also expressed regret over the incident and assured that the Federal Government would never condone such an act.

“As attested by the NLC leadership, the NSA immediately intervened on learning about the travails of the President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joseph Ajero who was assaulted in Owerri, Imo State.

“The NSA regrets the incident and condemns it in its entirety as it was against the rule of law and the principles of freedom of association and expression subscribed to by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his administration.

The Federal Government will never condone such an act,” the statement read.

The statement appealed to the labour leadership to suspend its nationwide strike and resume dialogue with the government over the issues affecting the welfare of Nigerian workers.

“The Federal Government, through the Office of the NSA, therefore, appeals to the labour leadership to call off the current strike action and allow the dialogue process underway to be exhausted,” the statement concluded.

The statement said the ONSA was concerned by the implications of the strike action on the livelihood of ordinary Nigerians and its potential impact on economic security and other strategic national interests.