NLC to shutdown Nigeria over Ajaero’s potential arrest, accuses FG of harassing leaders
*Holds emergency, asks leader to comply with police invitation
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has declared, on Tuesday August 20, 2024, that it would shut down the country if its National President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, is detained or arrested by the Nigerian Police Force (NPF).
This declaration followed a decision reached at the conclusion of an emergency meeting of the NLC’s National Executive Council, held in the early hours of Tuesday in Abuja.
The DEFENDER reports that some union executives participated virtually in the meeting, which began at 8:30am, and at the end of which it was agreed that Ajaero should comply with the police’s request for an interview.
By a letter dated August 19, 2024 and addressed to him in person and not as President of the NLC, Comrade Ajaero was invited by the police regarding charges of “criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, reasonable felony, subversion, and cybercrime.”
The invitation letter, dated August 19, 2024, was signed by ACP Adamu Mu’azu on behalf of the Commissioner of Police Intelligence. It stated that Ajaero’s name had surfaced in ongoing investigations related to “criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, reasonable felony, subversion, and cybercrime.”
The letter instructed Ajaero to appear at the IRT Complex near Guzape Junction on Tuesday, August 20, at 10 a.m., warning that a warrant for his arrest would be issued if he failed to comply.
It will be recalled that security forces had, on July 7, embarked on a night-time raid of the NLC national secretariat in Abuja.
According to the NLC spokesperson, Benson Upah, the operatives entered the building around 8:30pm, arresting the security guards and forcing them to surrender keys to offices on the second floor.
Upah explained, “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.”
