Following the ongoing face-off between it and Nigeria Police, the leadership of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has asked its members to be ready to commence a nationwide strike if need be by midnight of Tuesday.
The labour centre said in a communique after its emergency National Executive Council in Abuja that it had directed all the state chapters and affiliates to mobilise workers for an indefinite strike from midnight if anything happened to the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, who was invited by the police for questioning over terrorism financing allegation.
The police invitation to Ajaero comes weeks after policemen conducted a night raid on the NLC national secretariat in Abuja.
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, while justifying the raid, said the police were on the trail of one of the terrorists who masterminded the crisis in Sudan.
The police added that the raid was to search for seditious materials in connection to the recent nationwide #EndBadGovernance or hunger protest, which turned violent in parts of the country, particularly in the North, where some protesters were seen waving the Russian flag and demanding President Bola Tinubu’s resignation.
On Monday, the police said Ajaero should appear for questioning at 10 am over an allegation of terrorism financing and treasonable felony.
The NLC National Executive Council convened an emergency for Tuesday morning to weigh the situation.
Rising from the meeting, the NLC leadership, in their communique, said they viewed Ajaero’s summon as “a clearly unfounded and politically-motivated investigation”.
In the communique by NLC Deputy President, Ado Sani Minjibir, the congress warned that “it will not hesitate to take all necessary actions, including mass protests and industrial actions, to protect the integrity and independence of the labour movement”.
“The NEC directs all affiliates and state councils to immediately commence the process of mobilising their members across the nation.
“The congress will not hesitate to take all necessary actions, including mass protests and industrial actions, to protect the integrity and independence of the labour movement.
“If anything happens to the President of the Congress or any other leader of the congress in furtherance of these tendentious allegations by the state;
“NEC puts all its affiliates and state councils alert to proceed on indefinite nationwide strike action by 12:00 midnight today”.
The NLC also called on all civil society allies and the general populace to stand in solidarity with the union at “this critical moment”.
The meeting expressed grave concern ‘that rather than extending the demand by the congress for the earlier invasion of its national headquarters by security agencies, the Nigeria Police has chosen to embark on this spurious and fortuitous journey of intimidation, harassment, and witch-hunt.
“This 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 Conventions 87 and 98. In light of this, the NEC of the NLC resolves as follows”, it said.
NLC said that it had decided to honour the police invitation as a responsible labour centre committed to the rule of law and due process.
It then added that it would not sit idly while the rights and freedoms of its members and leaders were trampled upon with impunity by the state.
“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 legitimise the baseless allegations levelled against him.
“The Nigeria Labour Congress remains resolute in its commitment to defending the rights and interests of workers and the Nigerian people. We shall not be cowed or intimidated by these desperate attempts to silence us.
“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 destabilise the labour movement, which has always stood as a bastion of democratic principles and the voice of the Nigerian masses.
from its evil intentions and stop the ongoing witch-hunt against the leaders of the Congress forthwith,” NLC said in the communique.
The PUNCH earlier reported on Monday that Ajaero was invited by the police for an “interview” on charges connected to “criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, reasonable felony, subversion, and cybercrime”.
The letter of invitation, dated 19 August 2024, by Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Adamu Mu’azu on behalf of the Commissioner of Police Intelligence, said Ajaero’s name was mentioned in ongoing investigations connected to “criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, reasonable felony, subversion, and cybercrime”.
Accordingly, the letter directed Ajaero to report at the IRT Complex, Abbattoir by Guzape Junction on Tuesday, 20 August at 10 am, threatening that a warrant of arrest would be issued against him if he failed to report.
Earlier, on 7 July, security agents conducted a night raid on the NLC national secretariat in Abuja.
According to the NLC spokesperson, Upah, the operatives burst into the building at about 8.30 pm and arrested the security guards, forcing them to hand over keys to the offices on the second floor.
Upah said, “The security operatives, some from the Nigeria Police Force, some wearing black tee-shirts, presumably from the Department of State Services, and others on outright mufti, swooped on the 10th Floor of the NLC and arrested the security operative on duty and then commandeered him to the second floor where he was asked to produce the keys to the offices.”.
The police took responsibility for the operation, saying it was aimed at uncovering incriminating documents that could help build a case against an international “subversive” figure considered a threat to Nigeria’s democracy.
Last week, the NLC rejected the explanation offered by the police on the raid and demanded the release of its arrested members and seized documents.
The NLC also criticized government attempts to interfere with the organisation’s internal affairs, including a proposed reduction in the tenure of trade union leaders.
Falana writes police
Meanwhile, the NLC lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), wrote to the police on Tuesday, asking that Ajaero’s interview be shifted to 29 August.
Falana said Ajaero would be unable to honour the police invitation on Tuesday due to a prior engagement scheduled before the invitation was received.
The letter dated 20 August, by Samuel Ogala on behalf of Falana, read, “We are solicitors to the Nigeria Labour Congress and its President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, on whose behalf we write this letter in respect of the above subject matter.
“We have the instructions of Comrade Joe Ajaero to inform you that he is unable to honour your invitation on Tuesday, 20 August 2024, in view of the fact that your invitation letter was received by him yesterday (Monday).
“He has an engagement that had been fixed before the receipt of the invitation letter. Therefore, Comrade Ajaero is prepared for your interview on Wednesday, 29 August 2024”
Citing section 36 of the 1999 Constitution, Falana requested the details of the allegations levelled against Ajaero.
“Furthermore, in accordance with the provisions of section 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as altered, Comrade Ajaero requests for the details and nature of the allegations of Criminal Conspiracy, Terrorism Financing, Treasonable Felony, Subversion and Cybercrime levelled against him.
“While awaiting your positive response to this letter, please accept the assurances of our highest esteem,” the letter added.
Also, the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), on Tuesday, asserted that the Federal Government must uphold and safeguard labour rights and free speech to foster a just and equitable society for all citizens.
In a statement signed by NUEE’s acting General Secretary, Igwebike Dominic, he expressed deep concern over the political manoeuvring involved in the police summons of the NLC President, Ajaero.
“The Federal Government’s resort to witch-hunt, harassment, and name-calling, instead of apologising to the congress and its leadership for the unlawful invasion of the NLC Headquarters a few days ago, is both embarrassing and clueless.
“The choice by the Government to stifle labour and free speech in the country as a tool to compel Nigerians to continue to suffer in silence in the face of government policies that are not favourable to the people is quite deploring”, NUEE said.
