Olusesan Oba
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has urgently called for a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting following the police summons of its National President, Joe Ajaero, over allegations related to terrorism financing.
The meeting is scheduled to take place at 8 a.m. today (Tuesday) at the Olaitan Oyerinde Hall, Labour House, with the attendance of all heads of affiliates and state chapter leaders.
This emergency session was announced through a notice titled “Notice of Emergency National Executive Council Meeting,” issued by the NLC’s Secretary General, Emmanuel Ugboaja. The notice emphasized the urgency of the situation, as the congress leadership moves to address the serious accusations leveled against its president.
The police invitation, dated August 19, 2024, and signed by ACP Adamu Mu’azu on behalf of the Commissioner of Police Intelligence, accuses Ajaero of involvement in “criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, reasonable felony, subversion, and cybercrime.” Ajaero has been directed to report to the IRT Complex at Guzape Junction by 10 a.m. today, with a threat of arrest if he fails to comply.
The invitation is the latest development in a series of confrontations between the NLC and the government. On July 7, security agents conducted a nighttime raid on the NLC’s national secretariat in Abuja, seizing documents and detaining security personnel. The police justified the raid as part of an investigation into a supposed international subversive figure deemed a threat to Nigeria’s democracy.
The NLC has vehemently rejected the police’s explanations and demanded the immediate release of its members and the return of the seized documents. The union has also condemned what it perceives as increasing government interference in its affairs, including attempts to shorten the tenure of trade union leaders.
As tensions between the NLC and the government escalate, today’s NEC meeting is expected to be a critical moment in determining the union’s response to what it views as an attack on its leadership and autonomy.
