The Nigerian Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress and affiliate unions have threatened to go on strike in the next 24 hours in reaction to the kidnap of state chairman of NLC, Ben Ukpepi.

In a communique issued after an emergency meeting in Calabar on Monday, the organised labour said it will embark on the action if Ukpepi who was kidnapped by gunmen at his home in Akpabuyo on Saturday night, was not released unharmed.

It described the kidnap as a “barbaric act which threatens the organised labour community in the state.”

It was the second time in 15 months that Ukpepi was kidnapped.

The communique read in part, “The state government should ensure the release of the state chairman of NLC unharmed within the next 24 hours.

“Failure to secure the release of the NLC chairman, the organised labour will be forced to withdraw services.”

They also said that “All civil and public servants should note that at the expiration of this ultimatum and the chairman of NLC is not released, all workers should shut down and stay at home.”