The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Abia State Chapter, has instructed workers in the state to be on the standby for a possible industrial action, should the Police arrest their National President Comrade Joe Ajaero.
The leadership of the labour union in a circular jointly issued by the State NLC Chairman, Comrade Okoro Ogbonnaya, and Secretary, Emma Alozie on Thursday in Umuahia said it would not issue any further notice about industrial action, but would on the midnight of any day Ajaero or any labour leader is arrested commence an indefinite strike.
The Police headquarters had two days ago invited Ajaero for questioning over alleged terrorism financing and treasonable felonies.
Recall that the Police had amid the recent nationwide protests against hunger and bad governance, raided the Labour national secretariat in Abuja, and carted away documents.
The actions of the Police has generated a public outcry and global condemnation against the labour union which has been interpreted in some quarters as a move to intimidate labour and forced President Bola Tinubu government’s critics into submission.
The instructions read in part: “Consequent upon the invitation for interview issued to Comrade Joe Ajaero, the President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the management, all industrial unions and the workers of Abia Civil Service are by this notice informed as follows:
“That upon any ugly incident of the arrest of the NLC President or any other Labour Leader, sequel to this unjustified and untimely invitation, all workers are to down tools as from midnight of the same day.
“Whilst workers wait for further instructions and directives as to mode of engagement which could be strike, protest etc. this information is to serve as our official notice to all concerned.
“The State Government, security Agencies, all Civil Liberty Organizations, the general public, all media houses etc, should take note, even as the workers wait for the next line of action.
“All industrial unions, both in public and private sectors are directed to forward this notice to their units and branches and to commence sensitization and mobilisation of their members for total compliance.”