The Nigeria Labour Congress ( NLC), on Friday, said several civil servants in Imo state have died while awaiting salaries arrears
Joe Ajaero, the National President of the NLC, while recounting his recent ordeals in the hands of security operatives in the state, revealed that contrary to claims by Governor Hope Uzodinma that he is up-to-date with salaries, many had died without being paid.
” Whosoever is writing any trash on top of the workers should know that some have died without being paid. There is a case where a woman and her husband died awaiting their salaries.
” Some of them that came that Sunday. Complained that they have not been paid for years,” he said while addressing Journalists at the Labour House, Abuja
Ajaero narrated how the Imo state Chairman of the NLC had to abandon his position and run away from Imo state following persecution from the State government.
” And now we’re looking for who will take the position of NLC Chairman.”‘
Speaking on the attacks on those who came out to protest the non-payment of salaries recently, the NLC President stated that the government dispersed the crowd with force to prevent the truth.
Read also Ajaero, NLC President allegedly beaten by police and thugs
The government was unaware that so many would come out since the governor said he has paid everybody and challenged us to assemble them for the government to see.
“They were surprised to see that thousands of people came out”
” The workers that arrived as early as 7 am were beaten up and properties that belonged to them, like phones seized. Some of them had broken eyes.”
” It was at around 9 am that I went there I was assisted by security personnel. I was in the Secretariat of the NLC and called some journalists and some officials to join.
He recalled how the police, numbering about 20 came to the venue of the rally
” The Policemen arrested me and handed me over to one Sergeant or inspector
” That was how they dragged me on the floor. They tied my nose, tied my eyes tight, and everyone was hitting me with all manner of weapons.
Ajaero, who revealed that he didn’t know how the same people carried him to the police headquarters, added that he was kept ” standing outside, and I was there waiting like a common criminal
” But that wasn’t the end of my journey. When I arrived, they transferred me to another boss, the one they called Tiger Bee, adding that he was interrogated for hours.
” I think it was in that process that they got a call and took me to the Office of the Commissioner of Police who ordered that I should take into police hospital.”
