NLC directs state councils to storm police commands

•NUJ asks journalists in Abuja to converge on Force HQ

•Prevail on Nigerian govt to end repression of trade unions – UK Labour Union

President of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Joe Ajaero, will today appear at Force Headquarters to honour a Police summon over alleged criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion, and cybercrime 11 days after an invitation by the Intelligence Response Team, IRT, arm of the Police.

Leaders of industrial unions affiliated with NLC, workers, civil society allies and some lawyers, among others, are expected to accompany Ajaero to the Police headquarters.

NLC has also directed leaders of its state councils nationwide to mobilize and embark on a peaceful procession to state police commands and hold prayer sessions in solidarity with its President and organized Labour over the current challenges facing the labour movement in the country.

Similarly, the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, has asked its Federal Capital Territory, FCT, chapter to mobilize Abuja-based journalists to the Force Headquartres in solidarity with NLC and its President, Ajaero.

This came as the Trade Union Congress, TUC, (United Kingdom) urged the British government to prevail on the federal government to end the violent repression and intimidation of trade unions.

Recall that the Police had on August 19, invited the NLC President to appear at its headquarters for questioning on August 20, over allegation of criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion and cybercrime, threatening to arrest him if he failed to honour the invitation.

But on August 20, human rights activist and lawyer to the NLC, Femi Falana, SAN, explained why the President of NLC could not honour the Police invitation for him to appear.

In a circular to NLC affiliates and state councils, by the General Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja, NLC stated: “In response to the recent summon by the Nigeria Police Force for our President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, to appear for interrogation on trumped-up charges on Thursday, August 29, 2024, we call on all NLC affiliates and state councils to mobilize their members in Abuja and across the states to show solidarity.

“All CWC members resident in Abuja and other members are expected to assemble at the National Headquarters of the NLC by 8:00 AM on Thursday (today) to accompany the President to the Police for the scheduled interaction.

“In state capitals, members should gather at their respective state secretariats. From there, they will embark on a peaceful procession to their state police headquarters where they will hold a prayer session until the President’s interaction with the Police is concluded.

“This peaceful march is a united stand against the unjust actions aimed at intimidating our leadership and stifling the voice of Nigerian workers. We urge all members to remain peaceful and orderly throughout the procession and prayer session. If for any reason, the President is detained; all workers nationwide shall proceed on indefinite strike.”

NUJ directive

Similarly, the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, in a show of solidarity, has directed its FCT chapter to mobilize members in Abuja and work with other affiliates of NLC to accompany the Congress President to force headquartres.

NUJ in a statement by the National Secretary, Achike Chude, said: “We have been watching with trepidation great angst and baited breath, the unfathomable macabre dance exhibited by the nation’s police force against the leadership of the Nigerian workers, most notably President of NLC, Joe Ajaero.

“Our seeming silence was observed in the hope that the police would beat a hasty retreat from their actions and tread the path of caution and civility. We have no bones to grind with the police authorities and, as citizens of this greatly beloved but much beleaguered country, we are ever willing to cooperate with the authorities whenever demanded by national imperatives and exigencies, the police included.

“But it must never be at the expense of our union, our people, and our country. The importance of fighting for, and defending our nation state, Nigeria, cannot be over-emphasized.

”We are patriots, we are Nigerians, and we love our country, in spite of deeply inherent socio-economic contradictions that are threatening our very existence as a nation.”

United Kingdom Labour Union reacts

Meanwhile, the TUC (United Kingdom), has joined the growing list of global labour movement solidarity against perceived attacks of Nigerian trade unions and their leaders.

In a solidarity message to NLC and its President, the General Secretary TUC (UK), Paul Nowak, said: “The TUC notes with deep concern the ongoing persecution of President of NLC, Joe Ajaero. The President was summoned by the police on trumped-up charges of ‘criminal conspiracy and ‘terrorism financing’.

”This follows President Ajaero’s arrest and assault by the police last November. Earlier this month, heavily armed security forces raided and occupied the headquarters of the NLC, causing considerable damage to the building and arresting a union official.

“This violation of the NLC’s right to operate free from intimidation follows a sustained period of hostility from the Nigerian government towards the NLC and its affiliated unions, SSANU and NASU.

“The raid on NLC and continued harassment of its President come as the organisation held an emergency meeting to discuss the welfare of Nigerian workers amid peaceful #EndBadGovernance protests sparked by the country’s cost of living crisis.

“The TUC urges the UK government to call on the government of Nigeria to end the violent repression and intimidation of trade unions and ensure that trade unions in Nigeria can operate freely without fear.

”Instead of attacking unions, the Nigerian government should engage with them in social dialogue to find ways to end the cost-of-living crisis and, as the NLC put it, ‘chart a path forward that addresses the root causes of the current unrest – hunger, poverty, inflation, insecurity and widespread dissatisfaction with government policies.

“The TUC stands with the NLC in calling on the Nigerian government to respect the ILO’s fundamental conventions, particularly those on freedom of association and the right to organise. We are proud to welcome President Ajaero to our congress in Brighton next month.”