Abuja, August 20, 2024 – The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued a stark warning, threatening to bring the nation to a standstill if the police detain or arrest its President, Joe Ajaero.
This decision was reached at an emergency National Executive Council meeting held in Abuja today, with some members participating virtually.
The meeting, which commenced at 8:30 am, concluded with a resolution for Ajaero to comply with a police invitation. However, the NLC’s stance is clear: any attempt to arrest or detain their leader will trigger a nationwide shutdown.
Ajaero was summoned by the police for an “interview” on Tuesday, August 20th, at 10 am, regarding charges of “criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, reasonable felony, subversion, and cybercrime.” The invitation letter, dated August 19th and signed by ACP Adamu Mu’azu, states that Ajaero’s name emerged during ongoing investigations into these alleged offenses. Failure to appear could result in a warrant of arrest.
This latest development follows a July 7th raid on the NLC national secretariat in Abuja, where security agents, including officers from the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services, reportedly arrested security guards and seized documents from the second floor. The police justified the operation as an attempt to uncover evidence against an international “subversive” figure deemed a threat to Nigeria’s democracy.
The NLC, however, vehemently rejected the police’s explanation and demanded the release of its detained members and the return of the seized documents. The organization has also criticized government attempts to interfere with its internal affairs, including a proposed reduction in the tenure of trade union leaders.
The NLC’s threat of a nationwide shutdown underscores the escalating tension between the labor union and the government. The situation remains fluid, and further developments are expected.
