Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has suspended its ongoing strike in Imo for two weeks.
Mr Joseph Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, announced the suspension of the strike in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the state chapter of the NLC went on strike on March 9 in response to the alleged harassment and brutalization of workers by the state government.
The labour congress also accused the state government of failing to implement previous agreements reached with trade unions since 2021, including 20-month salary arrears owed to some workers.
Others include non-payment of pensions for several months, non-remittance of check-off dues, and other anti-union activities, according to the NLC.
Ajaero attributed the suspension of the strike for two weeks to what he called persistent interventions by highly-respected and well-meaning Nigerians from within and outside the state as well as assurances by agents of the state government to make amends.
He also said that the suspension of the industrial action was necessitated by the need to create an enabling environment for citizens to perform their civic duties during the governorship and house of assembly elections on Saturday.
“On behalf of NLC, I hereby announce the suspension of the on-going strike in Imo State.
“The suspension is expected to last two weeks during which the state government or its agencies are expected to meet up with the demands of the workers in the state,’’ he said.
The NLC president further stated that, in the event that the window of opportunity was not utilised by the state government, the congress would be left with no choice than to resume the suspended strike with more ferocity.