The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has vehemently condemned what it describes as a state-sponsored campaign of harassment and intimidation against its leadership following the police invitation extended to NLC President, Joe Ajaero.
Ajaero was summoned by the Nigeria Police Force over allegations of criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion, and cybercrime.
The NLC has responded with a firm stance, warning that any arrest of its leader could result in a nationwide shutdown of the economy.
The labour movement, in a statement released yesterday, accused certain interest groups of attempting to silence its leadership due to its outspoken opposition to the Federal Government’s policies, which they claim have caused mass suffering and hunger among Nigerians.
Global Outcry and Solidarity
The police summons has sparked widespread outrage, with international labour bodies and civil society organizations, including Amnesty International and ActionAid, expressing deep concern over what they view as escalating attacks on the trade union movement in Nigeria.
Luc Triangle, General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), which represents 191 million members across 167 countries, issued a statement highlighting the severity of the situation.
“The ITUC is gravely concerned by the escalating attacks on the trade union movement in Nigeria.
The recent actions against the NLC and its leaders are an affront to established rights and freedoms, and they undermine the principles of democracy and the rule of law,” Triangle stated.
The ITUC Africa echoed these sentiments, with General Secretary Joel Odigie condemning the police’s actions as a blatant misuse of state powers against trade union leaders.
Odigie emphasized that such conduct violates international conventions and Nigeria’s own constitution, which guarantees the right to freedom of association and peaceful assembly.
Domestic Support and Legal Defense
Amidst the growing tension, the NLC has alerted its affiliates and the international community to the situation, calling for immediate support and solidarity.
Human rights lawyer and activist, Chief Femi Falana, SAN, who represents the NLC, has criticized the timing and nature of the police invitation.
Falana explained that Ajaero was unable to honor the police invitation due to prior engagements and has requested details of the allegations against him.
He also notified the police of Ajaero’s willingness to appear on August 29, 2024.
Meanwhile, several domestic civil society organizations, including the Civil Society Legislative and Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and Yiaga Africa, have voiced their concern over the police’s actions.
CISLAC Executive Director, Auwal Rafsanjani, described the situation as an attempt to stifle free speech and suppress the labour movement.
“This is a dangerous precedent for our democracy. The ongoing attempts to incriminate and silence the NLC leadership are deeply troubling and must be condemned by all Nigerians,” Rafsanjani said.
Potential Consequences
The NLC has directed its affiliates to be on high alert, with plans to shut down the economy if Ajaero is arrested.
The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) and the National Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN) have also expressed their readiness to mobilize their members in response to any further actions against Ajaero.
In a statement, NUEE Acting General Secretary, Iwebike Dominic, condemned the government’s approach as “embarrassing, childish, and clueless,” warning that any attempt to arrest Ajaero would be met with strong resistance from the union.
