NLC holds emergency NEC meeting over Ajaero’s police invitation

The Nigeria Labour Congress has summoned what it described as an emergency National Executive Council meeting following the invitation of its National President, Joe Ajaero, by the police for allegedly financing terrorism.

The NEC meeting will be held by 8am on Tuesday (today) with all heads of affiliates and state chapters of NLC expected to be in attendance.

The notice of the meeting titled, “Notice of emergency National Executive Council meeting,” was signed by the NLC’s Secretary General, Emmanuel Ugboaja.

The notice read, “I bring you fraternal greetings from the congress headquarters.

“You are invited to the emergency National Executive Council Hybrid meeting scheduled as follows:Tuesday, August 20, 2024; 8am
Olaitan Oyerinde Hall, Labour House.”

The PUNCH earlier reported on Monday that Ajaero was invited by the police on charges connected to “criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, reasonable felony, subversion, and cybercrime”.

The letter of invitation, dated August 19, 2024, and signed by ACP Adamu Mu’azu on behalf of the Commissioner of Police Intelligence, said Ajaero’s name was mentioned in ongoing investigations connected to “criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, reasonable felony, subversion, and cybercrime”.

Accordingly, the letter directed Ajaero to report at the IRT Complex, Abbattoir by Guzape Junction on Tuesday, August 20 at 10 am, threatening that a warrant of arrest would be issued against him if he failed to report.

The PUNCH reported that security agents, on July 7, conducted a night raid on the NLC national secretariat in Abuja.

The police took responsibility for the operation, saying it was aimed at uncovering incriminating documents that could help build a case against an international “subversive” figure considered a threat to Nigeria’s democracy.

Last week, the NLC rejected the explanation offered by the police on the raid and demanded the release of its arrested members and seized documents.

The NLC also criticised government attempts to interfere with the organisation’s internal affairs, including a proposed reduction in the tenure of trade union leaders.