The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, on Wednesday urged the organized labour to call off their nationwide strike which began on Tuesday.
The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) embarked on the strike on Tuesday to protest against the attack on the NLC president, Joe Ajaero, in Imo State on 1 November.
Mr Ribadu, in a statement by the Head of Strategic Communications in the NSA office, Zakari Mijinyawa, expressed concerns over the implications of the ongoing strike, but assured the striking workers that some of the attackers of the NLC president had been arrested.
He also said the matter was being investigated and that the outcome of the probe would be made public.
“The NSA is particularly worried about the implications of the strike action on the livelihood of ordinary Nigerians and its potential impact on economic security and other strategic national interests.
“As attested by the NLC leadership, the NSA immediately intervened on learning about the travails of the President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joseph Ajero who was assaulted in Owerri, Imo State.
“The NSA regrets the incident and condemns it in its entirety as it was against the rule of law and the principles of freedom of association and expression subscribed to by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his administration.
“The Federal Government will never condone such an act.
“As a fallout of the incident relevant authorities were directed to conduct thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the assault and bring to book the culprits,” the statement read, in part.
Assuring the NLC justice in the case, Mr Ribadu, on behalf of the federal government, on Wednesday, “appeals to the labour leadership to call off the current strike action and allow the dialogue process underway to be exhausted”.
