Ajaero: Labour mobilises Abia workers for strike

The organised labour in Abia State have commenced mobilisation in view of possible detention of the National President of Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, come Wednesday, August 29, 2024.

This was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday, titled, “Harassment of the Nigeria Police on organised labour and NLC President.”

The statement was jointly signed by the state chairman, Ogbonnaya Okoro, and the Secretary, Emma Alozie.

It read, “Consequent upon the Invitation for Interview issued to Comrade Joe Ajaero, the President of Nigeria Labour Congress, the management, all industrial unions and the workers of Abia Civil Service are by this notice informed as follows: 

“That upon any ugly incidence of arrest of the NLC President or any other labour leader, sequel to this unjustified and untimely invitation, all workers are to down tools as from 12am (mid-night) of the same day (Wednesday, August 29, 2024).”

While urging workers to walt for further instructions and directives concerning the mode of engagement which the statement said “could be strike, protest etc”,  Abia NLC advised the state government, security agencies, ail Civil Liberty Organidations, the general public, all media houses and others, to take note, while asking the workers to wait for the next line of action, as “Invitation to the President is invitation to the workers.” 

It would be recalled that the NLC on Monday confirmed the invitation of its president, Ajaero, by the police over issues bordering on alleged  “criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, reasonable felony, subversion and cybercrime” through a letter of invitation signed by ACP Adamu Mu’azu on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, Intelligence, dated August 19, 2024, 

However, the NLC on Tuesday, wrote to the police stating why Ajaero could not honour the invitation by the police for interrogation.

However, the labour movement urged the police to shift the date to August 29.

But anticipating a possible incarceration of Ajaero, the labour centre had on Tuesday in a communique issued after its emergency National Executive Council meeting, directed all state chapters and affiliates of the NLC to mobilise workers for an indefinite strike from midnight if anything happens to Ajaero.