The Imo State wing of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has dissociated its members from the plan of the it’s national president, Comrade Joe Ajaero to occupy Imo State from Wednesday, November 1.

Addressing newsmen in Owerri after a meeting with other labour leaders in the State, the state acting chairman of NLC, Rev Philip Nwansi, announced that organised labour in Imo would not be part of the planned action because of a subsisting court order stopping the NLC from embarking on any such action.

Also, the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Imo state chapter, has cautioned the Ajaero-led NLC against any workers strike in the State, saying that “Occupy Imo is politically motivated.”

The Industrial Court sitting in Owerri had last Friday, October 27, granted an order restraining the NLC from embarking on any industrial action in Imo state.

The NLC chairman said based on the court order, the planned strike code named “occupy Imo” had become illegal.

Nwansi directed: “All the affiliate unions, we are obeying the court order and we urge all Imo workers to be on their duty posts tomorrow as law abiding citizens.”

He said apart from the court order, the organised Labour in Imo State did not see any reason why the national body should order a strike.

He noted: “Workers of Imo State say vehemently no to “occupy Imo” because we have not found reasons enough for the action.”

He noted that Labour in Imo State has been on the same page with the State government and wondered why the national body should cry more than the bereaved.

Rev Nwansi said that since the Labour has no industrial dispute with the State government and since the Court has declared the planned strike tomorrow illegal, workers should go about their duties in their offices.

Also, the Christian Association of Nigerian (CAN), Imo State Chapter, advised the leadership of the NLC, to shelve the idea of occupying Imo State in the name of strike because of the negative impact it will have on the people.

The body said that It is unthinkable for Labour leaders to contemplate strike in Imo or any other part of the country for that matter now because of what the people are already passing through.

Chairman of CAN, Imo state chapter, Rev. Eches Divine Eches gave the advice when speaking to newsmen during a courtesy call on Governor Hope Uzodimma at the Government House Owerri by the group.

Rev Eches who said the CAN had come to restate her position on the Imo Charter of Equity as the way to go in guaranteeing political stability in Imo, also commended the Governor on the giant strides he has recorded in the State since mounting the saddle. (The Nation)

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