The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Tuesday, resolved to initiate a nationwide shutdown if the police detain or arrest its national president, Joe Ajaero.
This decision was made during an emergency National Executive Council meeting held in Abuja, with some executives participating virtually.
The meeting, which began at 8:30 a.m., concluded with a directive for Ajaero to honor the police invitation.
Iwitnesslive reported that Ajaero had been invited by the police for an “interview” regarding charges related to “criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, reasonable felony, subversion, and cybercrime.”
The letter of invitation, dated August 19, 2024, and signed by ACP Adamu Mu’azu on behalf of the Commissioner of Police Intelligence, said Ajaero’s name was mentioned in ongoing investigations connected to “criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, reasonable felony, subversion, and cybercrime”.
Accordingly, the letter directed Ajaero to report at the IRT Complex, Abbattoir by Guzape Junction on Tuesday, August 20 at 10 am, threatening that a warrant of arrest would be issued against him if he failed to report.
It was reported that security agents, on July 7, conducted a night raid on the NLC national secretariat in Abuja.
According to the NLC spokesperson, Upah, the operatives burst into the building at about 8.30 pm, and arrested the security guards, forcing them to hand over keys to the offices on the second floor.
Upah said, “The security operatives, some from the Nigeria Police Force, some wearing black tee-shirts, presumably from the Department of State Services, and others on outright mufti, swooped on the 10th Floor of the NLC and arrested the security operative on duty and then commandeered him to the second floor where he was asked to produce the keys to the offices.”
The police have defended their operation, stating that it was intended to uncover incriminating documents related to an international “subversive” figure deemed a threat to Nigeria’s democracy.
However, last week the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) rejected this explanation, demanding the release of its arrested members and the return of seized documents.
The NLC has also criticized the government’s efforts to interfere in the organization’s internal affairs, including a proposed reduction in the tenure of trade union leaders.
