President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Festus Osifo, stated, “Our senior comrade, Adams Oshiomhole, is giving an opinion based on the information he has. Today, he is a senator who is busy with national politics. I think he does not have sufficient information; maybe later we will give him as much information as possible, once he reaches out.”
Osifo made these comments during an interview on Channels Television on Wednesday. He emphasized that Oshiomhole, the senator representing Edo north, had commented on the ongoing strike without consulting union leaders, relying instead on information from the presidential villa.
In a recent address at the presidential villa, Oshiomhole, a former president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), characterized the strike as politically motivated. He urged organized labour to prioritize workers’ rights over political engagement.
Osifo challenged Oshiomhole’s stance, stating, “Maybe the information he (Oshiomhole) got from the villa was that he (Ajaero) went there to play politics. But I will tell him clearly that was not the case.” The strike was initiated by the NLC and TUC in protest of the alleged assault on Joe Ajaero, NLC president, in Imo state. Osifo clarified that Ajaero’s visit to Imo state on November 1 was not for political reasons.