By Kingston Magare
Labour unions have continued to express their solidarity with the Nigeria Labour Congress president Joe Ajaero, whom the police have accused of financing terrorism.
The police gave Mr. Ajaero a Tuesday August 20, 2024, deadline to report for questioning, but so far, the NLC boss was yet to show up. His lawyer Femi Falana SAN has asked for more information on the accusations levelled against Mr. Ajaero.
Nigeria Union of Teachers, National Union of Railway Workers, Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers and many others affiliated to the NLC have issued statements urging the police not to detain Mr. Ajaero on trump up charges of “criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion, and cybercrime.”
“The leadership of our great Union finds the invasion of the National
Secretariat of the Nigeria Labour Congress by some Security agencies and the recent allegations levelled against Comrades Joe Ajaero, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress by the Nigeria Police Force very intriguing and deeply concerning,” NUPENG’s General Secretary, Afolabi Olawale, said in a statement
“And as a very committed and strong affiliate of the Nigeria Labour Congress, we cannot but express our strongest reservations over these unwholesome developments and situations.
“In the light of these and consequent upon the resolution of the National Executive Council, NEC, of the Nigeria Labour Congress, we earnestly write to put all our members on notice to await further directive on appropriate lines of actions as we keenly observe and noting the unfolding situation concerning the Invitation of the President of the NLC by the Nigeria Police Force.”