“Following the invitation of the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, by the police on accusations of criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion, and cybercrime, the NLC firmly stated yesterday that it will not be silenced by state-sponsored harassment, intimidation, attacks, or persecution.
The NLC reiterated its commitment to resisting policies that inflict mass suffering and hunger, which it attributes to the Federal Government’s anti-people stance. The union also pointed out that certain interest groups are determined to silence the current leadership of the Congress.
Furthermore, the NLC has called on its affiliates to shut down the economy if Ajaero is arrested by the police. Meanwhile, human rights lawyer and advocate for the NLC, Chief Femi Falana, SAN, clarified why Ajaero could not respond to the police invitation to appear at Force Headquarters yesterday, stating that the labour leader is only available on August 29.
The invitation of Ajaero has sparked anger and outrage, with global workers’ groups and civil society organizations, including Amnesty International Nigeria and ActionAid, expressing their deep concern.
A top NLC leader said, ‘There is a concerted effort by certain groups to silence the NLC under this leadership. What they don’t realize is that we cannot be silenced. We are fighting for a just cause. In a democracy, we have the right to express our views. The workers elected us to speak up for them, and they are suffering. These are the issues we are raising with the government, which they are trying to suppress by targeting us.’
Referring to a bookshop operator’s alleged link to police investigations, the leader continued: ‘This is merely a smokescreen for a deeper agenda. The state is using this as a cover to crush the labour movement because of vested interests.’
In response to these developments, the NLC has alerted global labour bodies, including the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), regarding the harassment, intimidation, and summoning of its president.
In solidarity with Ajaero, human rights lawyers and civil society organizations under the leadership of Deji Adeyanju have vowed to accompany him to the police station when he honors the invitation. Adeyanju confirmed this, stating: ‘We have submitted a letter to the police on behalf of the NLC, and we are prepared to be arrested alongside Ajaero if necessary.’
ITUC, representing 191 million members globally, issued a statement expressing grave concern over escalating attacks on Nigeria’s trade union movement. ITUC General Secretary Luc Triangle stated, ‘The situation in Nigeria is deeply concerning. The NLC and its president are being targeted by the state in clear violation of international labour laws.’
Similarly, ITUC Africa General Secretary Joel Odigie condemned the Nigerian government’s misuse of state powers, highlighting how these actions contravene international and national protections for workers’ rights.
Amnesty International Nigeria also denounced the government’s continued efforts to undermine the NLC, stating, ‘This is a blatant attempt to cripple the union. The Nigerian government’s actions violate both national and international human rights laws.’ The group’s country director, Isa Sanusi, recalled the assault on Ajaero by police and state-sponsored thugs in 2023 and decried the government’s failure to hold anyone accountable.
Yiaga Africa’s Executive Director, Samson Itodo, expressed concern over the severity of the allegations, stating, ‘This is a troubling development. We must ensure that leaders holding the government accountable are not stifled by baseless charges.’
Meanwhile, the Civil Society Legislative and Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) Executive Director Auwal Rafsanjani condemned the continued attempts to intimidate and suppress the NLC leadership, calling on the government to be transparent and avoid fabricating allegations.
ActionAid Nigeria’s Country Director, Andrew Mamedu, also weighed in, stressing that while no one is above the law, the allegations against Ajaero must be carefully examined to avoid undermining Nigeria’s democracy.
Chief Femi Falana, SAN, Ajaero’s legal representative, explained that the NLC president could not attend the police invitation due to prior commitments but assured that he would be available on August 29. The NLC has requested full details of the allegations against Ajaero.
In the meantime, the NLC has instructed workers across the country to down tools if Ajaero is arrested, declaring that the invitation to Ajaero is an invitation to all workers.
The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) expressed disappointment at the Federal Government’s attempts to harass and intimidate labour leaders, urging its members to prepare to withdraw their services if Ajaero is detained.
Similarly, the National Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN) directed its members to prepare for industrial action. The union condemned the increasing harassment and intimidation of NLC leaders and warned that continued attacks would erode public trust in Nigeria’s institutions.
The Campaign for Democratic and Workers’ Rights (CDWR) described the police invitation as part of a broader pattern of state repression under the current regime, urging the labour movement to mobilize for resistance and mass protest against these attacks.
As tensions rise, labour unions across Nigeria are gearing up for potential strikes, signaling that the battle between the state and organized labour is far from over.”
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