The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has issued a stern warning that it will initiate a nationwide strike if its President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, is detained by the Nigerian police.
This ultimatum came shortly after an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held by the union on Tuesday.
The meeting was convened to discuss the recent police invitation extended to Ajaero, who has been accused of serious charges, including terrorism financing.
FirstNews reported that the Office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Intelligence Response Team (IRT), summoned Ajaero over allegations of criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, among others.
The official letter, which was shared with the public, requested Ajaero’s presence for an interview on Tuesday, August 20, 2024, at the IRT Complex in Guzape District, Abuja.
The letter further stated that the investigation has identified Ajaero as a person of interest in the ongoing case.
In response, the NLC NEC resolved that their president should honor the police invitation. However, they also directed their legal adviser to request an extension of the appearance date.
During the NEC meeting, Comrade Ado Kabiru Sani, the Deputy President of the NLC, addressed the situation and urged workers and affiliated unions to be on alert. He emphasized the union’s commitment to lawful conduct but also highlighted the seriousness of the potential repercussions should Ajaero be detained.
“As a committed labour center, we will honor the invitation of the police because we are not a faceless organization, but we are working with our lawyer for an extension of time,” Sani said.
“In the event that the President is arrested, all workers will down tools immediately. We should wait for further directives from our leadership.”
The NLC’s warning signals potential industrial action that could disrupt the nation’s workforce if the authorities proceed with detaining their leader, escalating tensions between the union and the government.
As the situation unfolds, all eyes are now on the response from the police and the subsequent actions of the NLC.