NLC Convenes Emergency Meeting Over Ajaero’s Fresh Police Summons

As the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) convenes an emergency meeting today, tensions are rising over what labour activists describe as “unacceptable intimidation” by the Nigeria Police Force.

The meeting comes in response to a fresh summons issued to the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, and the General Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja, for questioning by the police.

Sources within the labour movement revealed that today’s meeting is crucial, as the NLC leadership will decide how to address this latest development, which they perceive as an attempt to undermine and intimidate the union’s leadership.

The police had invited Ajaero and Ugboaja for further questioning related to an alleged case of criminal intimidation, public peace disruption, and malicious damage to property.

The interview is scheduled to take place on September 5, 2024, with Deputy Inspector of Police, Force Intelligence Department (FID), CP Rufus Alajide, expected to lead the questioning.

NLC’s Head of Information, Benson Upah, who spoke with The Guardian, expressed strong opposition to the police’s actions, labeling them a “clear case of witch-hunt and intimidation” orchestrated by state institutions.

He emphasized that the Congress would not stand idly by while the state’s coercive forces are used to suppress the labour movement.

He said, “It should be understood that we area responsible organisation that always thinks about the good of the nation and citizens at all times.

“The repeated invitations and the recent raid on the NLC office were clear indications of an orchestrated agenda by the state to harass and intimidate those holding dissenting views.

“This invitation, coming on the heels of the last one, clearly suggests a manifest intent by the state; it is so obvious.

“Those who were initially in doubt can now see that we never acted in breach of the law.

“The raid was a violation of our rights and
an act of impunity intended to scare, harass and intimidate.”

When asked if the visit would be postponed like the previous one, he added, “The organs will decide if they will be available. Some programmes have already been fixed.”