National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, announced on Wednesday that some suspected political thugs responsible for the assault on the National President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, have been apprehended.
The attack on NLC President Ajaero occurred in Owerri, the capital of Imo State, on November 1, during a protest by state workers over unpaid salaries.
The NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) responded by declaring a nationwide strike, demanding the arrest of the assailants and their sponsors.
In a statement signed by Zakari U Mijinyawa, the Head of Strategic Communications in the Office of the National Security Adviser, Ribadu urged organized labor to halt the ongoing nationwide strike.
He expressed concern about the potential impact of the strike on the livelihood of ordinary Nigerians and its repercussions on economic security and other strategic national interests.
Ribadu condemned the assault on Ajaero, describing it as a violation of the rule of law and the principles of freedom of association and expression endorsed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his administration.
He assured that the Federal Government would not condone such acts and emphasized that relevant authorities were directed to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident.
The NSA acknowledged that some arrests had already been made concerning the brutalization of the NLC president, promising to make the outcome of the investigation public once concluded.
In conclusion, the statement reiterated the government’s commitment to upholding the rule of law and urged organized labor to consider the impact of the strike on the nation while expressing understanding of their concerns.
