NLC directs workers to shut Nigeria’s economy if police arrest Ajaero
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Nigeria may be in for a major crisis as the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has directed workers to shut down the economy if the Nigeria Police makes real its threat to arrest NLC President, Joe Ajero.
The directive is coming on the heels of an invitation issued by the police to Ajero on Monday to appear before the Force headquarters on Tuesday for questioning over allegations of financing terrorism, and for treason.
Police, had in the invitation, warned that Ajero risked arrest if he failed to honour the invitation.
Meanwhile, NLC convened an emergency National Executive Council, NEC, meeting at the Labour House, where the Congress resolved to write to the Police for extension of time to enable it consult with its lawyers.
The labour leaders expressed worry over the invitation, and said it needed to be properly guided by legal experts.
Briefing the workers, who had assembled at the Labour House in solidarity with the Congress President and to follow him to the Police headquarters, the NLC Deputy President, Kabiru Ado Sani, said that the invitation to Ajaero was invitation to workers.
NLC agreed to honour the invitation as law-abiding body, but said it would not succumb to intimidation.
Sani said:“At the end of the meeting, we reached some certain resolutions. Part of the resolutions is that, as a committed labour centre that we agreed or that we abide by the rule of law and due process.
“We will honor the invitation of the Nigerian police, because we are not faseless organization, but we believe that we need an extension of time, after consultation with our lawyers, because this invitation was extended to the Congress President yesterday and asked to report at the police by 10am today.
“So we are already working with our lawyers to look for extension of time, but this does not legitimize the charges by the Nigerian police to the Congress leadership, and secondly, we resolve that in an event our Congress President was arrested or detained at any moment, we put our affiliate on red alert to mobilize our membership across the country, that all workers in this country should down tool their services.
“This is the resolution because Comrades, this organization belongs to all of us, therefore we should do everything possible to safeguard the safety of this organization. We therefore, thank you very much, and you shoulwait for further directives by our leadership.
“Whatever happens, we will communicate your leadership, and your leadership will communicate you. So we urge you to remain calm and go back peacefully to our working place and await further directives.”
Recall that security operatives had during the nationwide protests against hunger and bad governance, invaded Labour House in Abuja at night, and carted away some documents.
No convincing reasons have been aduced for the raid that attracted global condemnation.
