Train services suspended nationwide as railway workers join NLC, TUC strike

Train services have been suspended across the country in compliance with the nationwide strike by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC).

In an interview, Segun Esan, the secretary-general of the Nigeria Union of Railway Workers, said the association was involved in the strike “and no train was running as a result”.

The NLC and TUC had said they would embark on a nationwide strike from midnight on November 14.

Speaking with reporters on Monday, Festus Osifo, TUC’s president, said the strike would remain until “government at all levels wake up to their responsibilities”.

The nationwide strike is in protest against the alleged brutality of Joe Ajaero, the NLC president, in Imo state.

Ajaero was reportedly picked up from the Imo council secretariat of the congress in Owerri by heavily armed police officers.

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However, the Imo police command said the union leader was not arrested but was taken into protective custody to avoid being lynched by a mob.

On November 5, the national industrial court in Owerri, the capital of Imo, issued a restraining order to labour unions, preventing them from embarking on a strike in the state.

Also, the federal government had secured an order restraining the unions and their affiliates from embarking on the strike.

But despite the court orders, the labour unions stood their ground on the industrial action.

In the interview on Tuesday, Esan said all workers of the Nigerian railway have been asked to stay at home following the union’s resolve to join the NLC and TUC strike.

“In effect, therefore, all the workers of Nigerian Railway are duty-bound to join the nationwide strike action from zero-zero hour of Tuesday, 14th November, 2023 by staying back at home and away from their offices,” NAN quoted Esan as saying.

He also said all the offices, stations, workshops, and entire premises of the “corporation remain locked and inaccessible from zero-zero hour of Tuesday, 14th November, 2023, till otherwise directed by the congress”.