The National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) has shut down Aba North local government area secretariat over the battering of a worker, Chidimma Nwanosike, by the LGA Chairman, David Ikonne.

The NULGE, Abia chapter president, Ikechi Nwigwe, announced the shutdown of the secretariat on Wednesday.

He explained that the secretariat would remain closed pending Governor Okezie Ikpeazu’s assent to their request to sack Mr Ikonne.

Mr Ikonne was said to have battered Ms Nwanosike with planks and pipes on Tuesday afternoon, inflicting injuries leading to her being hospitalised.

The chairman accused Ms Nwanosike, head of the Works Department in the local government, of sabotaging his efforts, explained Mr Nwigwe.

“We got information that the executive chairman of Aba North Local Government Area, Mr David Ikonne, brutally assaulted Mrs Chidinma Nwanosike, the Head of Department Works of this Council,” he stated. “In our slogan, injury to one is an injury to all and because the woman is a director in the service and she knows the rules and she no doubt must behave in a civil manner.”

The labour leader added, “She may not have done anything to attract the beating, the harassment and the maltreatment. Imagine beating a woman with planks and pipes? We have those pieces of evidence with us. The man has no reason to beat the woman to the extent that she’s currently hospitalised at where she is receiving treatment.”

Mr Nwigwe said NULGE was shutting the secretariat as a precaution to save the rest of the workers from attacks from the political thugs of the chairman.

He also mentioned that the union had reported the matter to the Abia governor, head of service, and other relevant authorities, stressing that when the union is satisfied with Ikpeazu’s response, it will reopen the secretariat.

However, when Mr Ikonne was contacted, he denied assaulting Ms Nwanosike, adding that he could not beat a woman older than him.

(NAN)