Joe Ajaero, president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) will today, Thursday, 29 August visit the Nigeria Police headquarters in Abuja over alleged criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion, and cybercrime 11 days after an invitation by the Intelligence Response Team, IRT, arm of the Police.
Leaders of industrial unions affiliated with NLC, workers, civil society allies and some lawyers, among others, are expected to accompany Ajaero to the Police headquarters.
NLC has also directed leaders of its state councils nationwide to mobilize and embark on a peaceful procession to state police commands and hold prayer sessions in solidarity with its President and organized Labour over the current challenges facing the labour movement in the country.
Similarly, the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, has asked its Federal Capital Territory, FCT, chapter to mobilize Abuja-based journalists to the Force Headquartres in solidarity with NLC and its President, Ajaero.
This came as the Trade Union Congress, TUC, (United Kingdom) urged the British government to prevail on the federal government to end the violent repression and intimidation of trade unions.
Recall that the Police had on August 19, invited the NLC President to appear at its headquarters for questioning on August 20, over allegation of criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion and cybercrime, threatening to arrest him if he failed to honour the invitation.
But on August 20, human rights activist and lawyer to the NLC, Femi Falana, SAN, explained why the President of NLC could not honour the Police invitation for him to appear.
In a circular to NLC affiliates and state councils, by the General Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja, NLC stated: “In response to the recent summon by the Nigeria Police Force for our President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, to appear for interrogation on trumped-up charges on Thursday, August 29, 2024, we call on all NLC affiliates and state councils to mobilize their members in Abuja and across the states to show solidarity.
“All CWC members resident in Abuja and other members are expected to assemble at the National Headquarters of the NLC by 8:00 AM on Thursday (today) to accompany the President to the Police for the scheduled interaction.
“In state capitals, members should gather at their respective state secretariats. From there, they will embark on a peaceful procession to their state police headquarters where they will hold a prayer session until the President’s interaction with the Police is concluded.
“This peaceful march is a united stand against the unjust actions aimed at intimidating our leadership and stifling the voice of Nigerian workers. We urge all members to remain peaceful and orderly throughout the procession and prayer session. If for any reason, the President is detained; all workers nationwide shall proceed on indefinite strike.”
Similarly, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in a show of solidarity, has directed its FCT chapter to mobilize members in Abuja and work with other affiliates of NLC to accompany the Congress President to force headquartres.
NUJ in a statement by the National Secretary, Achike Chude, said: “We have been watching with trepidation great angst and baited breath, the unfathomable macabre dance exhibited by the nation’s police force against the leadership of the Nigerian workers, most notably President of NLC, Joe Ajaero.
“Our seeming silence was observed in the hope that the police would beat a hasty retreat from their actions and tread the path of caution and civility. We have no bones to grind with the police authorities and, as citizens of this greatly beloved but much beleaguered country, we are ever willing to cooperate with the authorities whenever demanded by national imperatives and exigencies, the police included.
“But it must never be at the expense of our union, our people, and our country. The importance of fighting for, and defending our nation state, Nigeria, cannot be over-emphasized.
”We are patriots, we are Nigerians, and we love our country, in spite of deeply inherent socio-economic contradictions that are threatening our very existence as a nation.”
