After Joe Ajaero, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), was summoned by the police over allegations of criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion, and cybercrime, the NLC asserted that it will not be silenced by state-sponsored harassment and intimidation.
The organization reaffirmed its commitment to opposing the government’s policies that contribute to mass suffering and hunger, emphasizing that certain interest groups are attempting to silence its current leadership.
The NLC also warned that if Ajaero is arrested, it would direct its affiliates to shut down the economy.
Human rights lawyer Chief Femi Falana, SAN, who represents the NLC, explained that Ajaero could not respond to the police summons immediately and would instead appear on August 29.
In response to Ajaero’s police summons, international workers’ groups, civil society organizations, and groups such as Amnesty International Nigeria expressed their outrage, viewing it as part of a broader strategy to suppress the NLC.
A leader within the NLC highlighted that the ongoing efforts to silence the union under its current leadership would not succeed, and the NLC would continue to advocate for workers’ rights.
The NLC has alerted global labor organizations, including the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), about the state-sponsored harassment and police actions against Ajaero. ITUC and its African branch, ITUC Africa, have both condemned the actions against the NLC as serious violations of international labor rights and a misuse of state powers.
Amnesty International Nigeria further accused the Nigerian government of targeting the NLC and its leadership in an effort to undermine and intimidate the labor union.
The organization pointed to previous incidents where Ajaero had been attacked and the NLC headquarters raided, expressing concerns over the growing pattern of government interference.
Other organizations, including Yiaga Africa, CISLAC, and ActionAid, have expressed concern over the serious allegations made by the police against Ajaero. They have urged for a fair and transparent investigation while warning against any attempts to stifle dissent.
In the event of Ajaero’s arrest, the NLC has directed its affiliates and allies to shut down the economy.
Various unions, including the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) and the National Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN), have already begun mobilizing their members for potential industrial action.
The Campaign for Democratic and Workers’ Rights (CDWR) also condemned the government’s actions and called for resistance against what it described as increasing repression under the Tinubu administration.
, was summoned by the police over allegations of criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion, and cybercrime, the NLC asserted that it will not be silenced by state-sponsored harassment and intimidation.){kind=link}