National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, on Wednesday, November 15, said attackers of the president of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, have been arrested.
The NSA also called on organised Labour to call off the ongoing nationwide strike, expressing worries over the impacts of the industrial action on the livelihood of Nigerians and the nation’s economic security.
Ribadu called for an end to the strike and disclosure of the arrest of culprits in the attack on Ajaero in a statement issued by Zakari Mijinyawa, Head of Strategic Communications, in the Office of the NSA.
According to the statement, the federal government and President Bola Tinubu’s administration will not condone lawlessness, as depicted in the attack on Ajaero during a protest in Owerri, Imo State, recently.
Ribadu, who called on the leaders of the Labour unions to call off their nationwide strike, as an investigation into the assault on the NLC president is ongoing, appealed that the bodies should allow ongoing dialogues to be exhausted.
He also assured that the results of the ongoing investigation into the attack will be made public as soon as it is concluded.
The statement said: “The NSA is particularly worried about the implications of the strike action on the livelihood of ordinary Nigerians and its potential impact on economic security and other strategic national interests.
“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 Ajaero, 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. As a fallout of the incident, relevant authorities were directed to conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the assault and bring to book the culprits.
“Available update indicates that some arrests have already been made. The outcome of the investigation will be made public as soon as it is concluded.
“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.”
