Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has warned the Federal Government that it will shut down the economy if its President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, is arrested by the police.
The police had invited Ajaero for questioning over allegations of terrorism financing, leading to an emergency National Executive Council meeting where the NLC resolved to seek an extension of time to consult with their lawyers.
The NLC Deputy President, Kabiru Ado Sani, stated that the invitation to Ajaero was seen as an invitation to all workers and that the NLC would honor the invitation but needed more time.
The NLC has put its affiliates on red alert, directing them to mobilize members to down tools and shut down the economy if Ajaero is arrested or detained.
The NLC sees the police invitation as an attack on the organization and is taking measures to protect its leadership and interests.
“At the end of the meeting, we reached some certain resolutions. Part of the resolution is that, as a committed labour center we agreed that we abide by the rule of law and due process.
“We will honor the invitation of the Nigerian police because we are not faceless organisation, but we believe that we need an extension of time, after consultation with our lawyers, because this invitation was extended to the Congress President yesterday and asked to report at the police by 10 am today.
“So we are already working with our lawyers to look for extension of time, but this does not legitimize the charges by the Nigerian police to the Congress leadership, and secondly, we resolve that in the event our Congress President was arrested or detained at any moment, we put our affiliate on red alert to mobilise our membership across the country, that all workers in this country should down tool their services.
“This is the resolution because Comrades, this organization belongs to all of us, therefore we should do everything possible to safeguard the safety of this organization. Consequently, we, thank you very much, and you should wait for further directives by our leadership.
“Whatever happens, we will communicate your leadership, and your leadership will communicate you. So, we urge you to remain calm and go back peacefully to our working place and await further directives,” it stated.
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