The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has vowed not to be silenced by what it describes as state-sponsored harassment, intimidation, and persecution, following the police invitation of its President, Joe Ajaero. Ajaero was summoned over allegations of criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion, and cybercrime. The NLC insists it remains committed to opposing the mass suffering and hunger caused by the Federal Government’s anti-people policies.
The NLC has alerted global labor bodies, including the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), about the harassment and intimidation of its leadership. The union has also called on its affiliates to shut down the economy if Ajaero is arrested.
The invitation has sparked outrage among civil society organizations and global workers’ groups, with human rights lawyer Femi Falana explaining that Ajaero could not honor the police invitation on August 20 due to prior commitments but will appear on August 29. Amnesty International Nigeria and other groups have condemned the government’s actions as attempts to stifle dissent and weaken labor movements.
As tension mounts, the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) has threatened to shut down the power sector if Ajaero is detained. The textile workers’ union has also directed its members to prepare for industrial action. The NLC leadership has made it clear that any attempt to detain Ajaero will result in nationwide protests and strikes, signaling a potential showdown between labor and the government.
