NlC suspends strike in Imo state for 2 weeks

The current strike by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Imo has been put on hold for two weeks.

In a statement released on Tuesday in Abuja, NLC President Joseph Ajaero proclaimed the end of the strike.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the state chapter of the NLC went on strike on March 9 over claims that the state government had brutalized and harassed its employees.

The state administration was also charged by the labor congress with refusing to carry out prior agreements made with the unions starting in 2021, including the 20-month salary arrears owing to some employees.

Others, according to NLC, are non-payment of pensions for several months, non-remittance of check-off dues and other anti-union activities.

Ajaero credited the two-week strike suspension to what he described as continuous interventions from well-respected and well-intentioned Nigerians from both inside and outside the state, as well as pledges of atonement from state government representatives.

He added that the necessity to create a conducive atmosphere for citizens to carry out their civic duty during the gubernatorial and house of assembly elections on Saturday necessitated the postponement of the industrial action.

“On behalf of NLC, I hereby announce the suspension of the on-going strike in Imo State.

“The suspension is expected to last two weeks during which the state government or its agencies are expected to meet up with the demands of the workers in the state,’’ he said.

The NLC president added that the congress would be forced to resume the suspended strike with greater intensity if the state government did not take advantage of the window of opportunity.