Bank and electricity workers have thrown their weight behind the nationwide strike initiated by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC).
The unions declared the strike, commencing from midnight on November 14, as a protest against the reported assault on Joe Ajaero, the President of the NLC, in Imo State on November 1.
Festus Osifo, the President of TUC, stated during a press briefing on Monday that the strike would persist until “government at all levels wake up to their responsibilities.”
Ajaero was reportedly arrested by armed security operatives in Imo. However, the Imo State Police Command said the labour leader was taken into protective custody against a potential mob attack.
Despite a restraining order issued by the National Industrial Court in Owerri on November 5 and a separate order obtained by the Federal Government prohibiting the unions from engaging in a strike, the NLC and TUC have remained steadfast in their stance.
The NLC, via its Facebook page, shared circulars from various unions expressing their solidarity and commitment to the strike.
Among the unions that have pledged their support are the National Union of Electricity Employees, Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN), National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees (NUBIFIE), Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics (SSANIP), National Union of Food Beverage and Tobacco Employees, Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, and the Nigeria Union of Railway Workers.
Others are the National Union of Postal and Telecommunication Employees, the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), and the Nigeria Union of Local Government
