The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has declared its intention to stage a protest in Imo State on November 1, with President Joe Ajaero vowing to mobilize members in full force. The NLC accused Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma of neglecting the welfare of Nigerian workers in the state, leading to numerous deaths due to unpaid salaries.
Ajaero pointed out several infractions committed by Governor Uzodimma, including the failure to honor previous agreements, unresolved salary arrears spanning approximately 20 months, the unjust categorization of workers and pensioners as ghost employees, and unsettled gratuity arrears. Notably, over 10,000 pensioners have been incorrectly labeled as ghost pensioners, leading to over 22 months of unpaid pensions, and approximately 11,000 workers have been falsely classified as ghost workers.
The NLC President also criticized the state government's non-compliance with the national minimum wage and its resistance to using social dialogue and collective bargaining to address these issues. The looming protest aims to draw attention to these grievances and demand better treatment for workers in Imo State.
