Workers to proceed on nationwide strike if Joe Ajaero is arrested and detained

By Chinedu Echianu

The Nigeria Labour Congress NLC says it would begin an immediate nationwide strike if its President, Joe Ajaero is arrested and detained by the police on allegations it described as unfounded and politically motivated bordering on terrorism
financing, cybercrime, subversion, criminal conspiracy and treasonable felony.

Recall that the police had carried out a raid on the second floor of the headquarters of the NLC in relation to the recent hunger protests where it confiscated documents, periodicals and books said to contain seditious materials.

The police had subsequently issued a letter of invitation to the NLC President to appear on Tuesday 20th August by 10 am at its intelligence response team office in Guzape to answer questions on allegations of terrorism financing, cybercrime among others which it said formed part of its investigations.

However, speaking to newsmen after an emergency national executive council meeting, Deputy President of NLC, Ado Sani-Minjibir said the meeting decided that the NLC President will honour the invitation but called on the Police to shift the invitation date.

A communique released after the emergency NEC meeting said the actions of the Police is nothing but a travesty and a blatant attempt to stifle the voice of the working people and their leadership, as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the International Labour Organization (ILO) Conventions 87 and 98.

The communique further reads; “the NLC shall honour the invitation extended to its President by the Nigeria Police but will demand for extension of time given the nature of the invitation. However, we wish to state unequivocally that this does not in any way legitimize the baseless allegations levelled against him.

“The NEC strongly condemns the continued harassment of the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress and other Labour leaders. We view this as a calculated attempt to weaken and destabilize the labour movement, which has always stood as a bastion of democratic principles and the voice of the Nigerian masses.

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