Ajaero Leaves Police HQ, Says Labour Movement Is Worth Dying For
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| Joe Ajaero and NLC members at the Labour House in Abuja |
Joe Ajaero, president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has returned to the Labour House in Abuja.
On Thursday morning, Ajaero honoured the invitation of the police to appear at the force intelligence response team’s (IRT) office.
BACKGROUND
On August 19, the police invited Ajaero for questioning over “a case of criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion, and cybercrime”.
The letter signed by Adamu Mu’azu, assistant commissioner of police, indicated that Ajaero was expected at the IRT complex on August 20.
Mu’azu said an arrest warrant would be issued on Ajaero if he did not honour the invitation.
Ajaero declined the invitation, demanding details of the allegations levelled against him.
On August 7, police had raided the NLC building in the Central Business District of Abuja.
The NLC said operatives who raided the building “claimed that they were looking for seditious materials used for the #EndBadGovernance protests”.
Subsequently, Kayode Egbetokun, inspector-general of police (IGP), said one of the masterminds of the Sudan conflict was traced to the NLC headquarters.
The IGP added that police detectives traced the foreigner to a shop within the Labour House, and that operatives did not raid the entire secretariat.
Nigerians took to the streets from August 1-10 to protest against economic hardship and soaring inflation with #EndBadGovernance as the theme.
‘I DIDN’T KNOW I WAS THIS LOVED’
On August 29, some members of affiliate unions and labour leaders across states, converged on the Labour House ahead of Ajaero’s visit to the IRT.
Afterwards, Ajaero and Femi Falana, human rights lawyer, alongside other activists, left the building for the IRT.
Ajaero and his entourage returned to the Labour House soon after.
The NLC president appreciated all affiliate unions for their solidarity and promised to “continue the struggle”.
“I want to thank everyone. I want to thank all comrades in the states who have been praying. Those that have been fasting since morning can now break their fast,” he said jocularly.
“The labour movement is worth dying for because of the patriotism and commitment. Labour movement is one of the biggest pan-Nigerian organisations.
“Our patriotism, from the days of colonial government to even the period of the military, is unshakeable.
“We have gone there and we are back. You can’t do this job we are doing without this type of matter. It’s expected. This is the hazard of the job.
“We are out to continue the struggle. We have gotten minimum wage but we have to press for its implementation as soon as possible.
“Every other thing that will make the welfare of Nigerian workers to be worthwhile, we’d be involved in it. We’d not listen to any distraction.
“I didn’t know that I was this loved.”
Maxwell Okpara, deputy lead counsel of the NLC president, said “there is no cause for alarm. What we heard was quite different from what was in the invitation letter”.
“Now that they have learnt their lessons and corrected themselves, we have taken it in that manner. The police said they just wanted to ask the NLC president one or two questions in respect to the tenant that is here,” Okpara added.
“That does not mean that we are going to relent because we don’t know what will come up next. We will get ourselves prepared.
“We are also using this medium to ask for the release or prosecution of all those arrested during the #EndBadGovernance protest. They have been detained for longer than stipulated by law.”
‘HARASSING LABOUR LEADERS’
Worried over the possible detention of Ajaero, the NLC leadership warned that it would embark on a nationwide strike should their President be arrested.
The union accused the Federal Government of harassing its leaders and has put its members and affiliates on red alert.
Deputy President of the Congress, Comrade Minjibir Ado issued the warning after an emergency meeting of the group’s National Executive Council on Auust 20.
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL REACTS
Global humanitarian organisation, Amnesty International Nigeria had condemned the current onslaught against the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero by the Nigerian Police Force (NPF).
A statement signed by the organisation’s Director, Isa Sanusi on August 20, described fresh allegations of terrorism financing by the Nigerian authorities against Ajaero and its leaders as an attempt to intimidate the unionists.
The international group’s reaction comes following NLC’s threat to embark on a nationwide strike should the police detain Ajaero.
Sanusi said, “Amnesty International is deeply concerned by the Nigerian authorities’ fresh attempts to further intimidate and harass Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) through threats of arrest of its President Joe Ajaero. We urge the authorities to end this pattern of brazen impunity and respect the right of the labour unions to agree or disagree with government and its policies.
“Under international human rights law and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Right, freedom of association is guaranteed, and workers cannot be targeted for participating in trade union activities. The Nigerian authorities have an obligation not only to respect the rights of workers but also to protect these rights from abuse.”
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