…Amnesty Int’l accuses FG of harassing labour
Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Joe Ajaero, has fixed Wednesday, August 29 to honour the invitation from the Nigeria Police Force.
He communicated the date to the Inspector General of Police via a letter from his lawyers, Falana and Falana Chambers.
The NLC President was summoned by the police over alleged criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion and cybercrime.
Ajaero, in the letter by his lawyers, also demanded details of the allegations levelled against him by the police.
“Furthermore, in accordance with the provisions of Section 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as altered, Ajaero requests for the details and nature of the allegations of criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion and cybercrime levelled against him,” the letter, signed by Samuel Ogala, read in part.
Earlier, Ajaero had turned down the invitation from the Nigeria Police Force, citing other engagements.
Meanwhile, NLC has threatened to embark on an indefinite nationwide strike if anything happens to Ajaero.
Deputy President of the NLC, Ado Kabiru Sani, stated this on Tuesday in a communique issued after the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting.
The NEC meeting was convened to discuss Ajaero’s invitation by the police over allegations bordering on “terrorism financing”.
NEC agreed that Ajaero should honour the police invitation and asked the nation’s workforce to be on standby for further directives should the police take it further.
“If anything happens to the President of the Congress or any other leader of the Congress in furtherance of these tendentious allegations by the State, NEC puts all its affiliates and state councils to proceed on indefinite nationwide strike action by 12:00 midnight today (Tuesday),” the communique said.
“The NEC calls on all civil society allies and the general populace to stand in solidarity with the Nigeria Labour Congress in this critical moment.
“The fight against injustice and oppression is a collective one, and we urge all Nigerians to rise in defence of our shared democratic values,” it said.
Recall that the police had on August 7 raided the NLC building in the Central Business District of Abuja.
Amnesty International has, meanwhile, accused the Federal Government of attempting to intimidate the country’s labour movement.
A statement signed by Amnesty International’s director, Isa Sanusi on Tuesday, described fresh allegations of terrorism financing by the Nigerian authorities against Ajaero and labour leaders as an attempt to intimidate the unionists.
“The Nigerian government is clearly and unlawfully interfering with the functioning of an independent workers union, by targeting its leaders with baseless accusations that are gradually crippling the activities of the union. The organisation urges the Nigerian authorities to immediately end this bizarre crackdown on leaders of the nation’s labour union. The allegations against NLC and its leadership are just punitive measures aimed solely at deterring and punishing them for standing up for workers’ rights,” Sanusi said.
On Monday, the police summoned Ajaero for investigation over allegations of financing terrorism, treasonable felony and cybercrime.
In a letter dated 19th August 2024, and signed by ACP Adamu Muazu on behalf of the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Intelligence Response Team, the police ordered the NLC president to present himself for questioning by 10:00 am on Tuesday (yesterday).
The police further warned in the letter that a warrant of arrest would be issued if Ajaero failed to comply.
