On Wednesday, Nuhu Ribadu, the national security adviser, announced that some people had been arrested in connection with the attack on Joe Ajero, the President of the Nigeria Labor Congress.
The National Security Agency (NSA) has begun an investigation into ongoing industrial action by the Nigeria Labor Congress and the Trade Union Congress. The NSA expressed alarm at this development.
This was revealed in a statement released by Zakari Mijinyawa, head of the National Security Adviser’s Strategic Communications Office.
The statement read in part, “NSA urges Labor to call off strike, condemns attack on NLC President, says suspects have been arrested over attack and investigations have begun.
“The Office of the National Security Adviser is concerned about the announcement of a national strike by the leadership of Organized Labor led by the NLC and the TUC. The NSA is particularly concerned about the impact of the strike on the livelihood of ordinary Nigerians and its potential impact on economic security and other strategic national interests.
“As confirmed by the leadership of the NLC, the NSA immediately intervened upon learning of the fate of the President of the Nigerian Labor Congress Joseph Ajaero who was attacked in Owerri, Imo State. The NSA regrets the incident and fully condemns it because it was against the rule of law and the principles of freedom of association and expression that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his administration were committed to. The Federal Government will never accept such an action. “
The NSA confirmed that the results of the investigation would be made public, calling on the unions to call off the strike.
“As a result of the incident, the relevant authorities have been asked to thoroughly investigate the circumstances of the attack and book the culprits. The available update indicates that some arrests have already been made in this regard. The result of the investigation will be published as soon as it is ready.
“Therefore the Federal Government, through the Office of the NSA, appeals to the leadership of the workers to suspend the current strike action and allow the ongoing dialogue process to be exhausted,” the statement said.
