The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued a stern warning, threatening a nationwide strike starting at midnight on Tuesday, if any harm befalls its President, Joe Ajaero. This follows his summons by the Nigeria Police over allegations of terrorism financing.
The NLC’s directive came after an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja, where it was decided that all state chapters and affiliates should prepare for an indefinite strike. The NEC’s communique, signed by NLC Deputy President Ado Sani Minjibir, condemned Ajaero’s summons as a politically motivated investigation.
The police had earlier raided the NLC national secretariat in Abuja, with Inspector-General Kayode Egbetokun justifying the action as part of efforts to track down terrorists linked to the crisis in Sudan. The raid was also aimed at uncovering seditious materials related to the recent nationwide #EndBadGovernance protests, which had turned violent in some northern states.
On Monday, the police demanded Ajaero’s presence for questioning at 10 a.m. on Tuesday over charges of terrorism financing and treasonable felony. In response, the NLC convened an emergency meeting, after which it vowed to mobilize for industrial action if Ajaero or any other labour leader was harmed.
The NLC called on all civil society allies and the general populace to stand in solidarity with the union. The meeting decried the police’s actions as a blatant attempt to stifle the voice of the working class and undermine the labour movement’s independence, as protected by the Nigerian Constitution and International Labour Organization conventions.
While the NLC committed to honoring the police invitation as a sign of respect for the rule of law, it emphasized that this did not legitimize the allegations against Ajaero. The congress reiterated its resolve to defend workers’ rights and condemned what it described as a calculated attempt to destabilize the labour movement.
In related developments, NLC lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) requested a postponement of Ajaero’s police interview to August 29, citing prior engagements. Meanwhile, the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) expressed deep concern over what it described as the Federal Government’s attempt to stifle labour rights and free speech.
The situation remains tense, with the NLC warning of dire consequences if the police continue what it perceives as a campaign of harassment against its leadership.
