The President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Festus Osifo, on Wednesday, took a swipe at a former President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Adams Oshiomhole, for criticizing the current industrial action by Organised Labour following an attack on the current NLC leader, Joe Ajaero.
Osifo, speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily program on Wednesday, emphasized that Ajaero’s presence in Imo State on November 1, 2023, was not for political purposes when he was assaulted.
Oshiomhole, currently a Senator representing Edo North Senatorial District, served as NLC leader from 1999 to 2007 before becoming Edo State governor for eight years.
During his visit to the Aso Villa in Abuja on Tuesday, Oshiomhole suggested that labor’s activities in Imo were politically motivated.
However, Osifo contradicted this claim, stating that it was inaccurate. Osifo explained that Oshiomhole formed his opinion based on the information provided at the Villa.
The TUC leader clarified that the NLC, comprising over 300 individuals, called for the action in Imo to protest the alleged anti-labor policies of the Governor Hope Uzodimma administration.
“What Ajaero went to do in Owerri was not political,” Osifo said.
“Our senior comrade, Adams Oshiomhole, you know, you give opinion, based on the information that you have, Today, he is a Senator, he is busy with national politics. I think he does not have sufficient information.”
“May be, after now, we will give him as much information as possible once he reaches out because he went to the Villa to meet with them (government officials). So, that is the information they gave to him.”
“Has he spoken with Joe Ajaero? Has he spoken with the senior labour leaders in the country to also have their opinions on what this subject is? We must always balance opinions.”
Osifo also mentioned that the unions had not received any court order to halt the strike.
“Our senior comrade (Oshiomhole) that spoke earlier when he was leading us in the Labour Movement, he clearly referred to such orders as black market injunctions but first of all, we were not served.”
“As we speak today, we don’t have service of any court order. If you procure court order, even if you procure it at midnight, you need to serve it on the party and I will tell you that we don’t have it. They should bring proof of service on the TUC and the NLC.”