We Won’t Be Silenced Over Mass Suffering In Nigeria — NLC

Following the invitation of the President of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Joe Ajaero, by the police on allegations of criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion and cybercrime, the labour movement yesterday said it will not be silenced by state-sponsored harassment, intimidation, attacks and persecution.

The NLC said it remained committed to its opposition to mass suffering and hunger occasioned by the anti-people policies of the Federal Government, saying some interest groups are doing everything possible to silence the current leadership of Congress.

It also called on Its affiliates to shut down the economy should Ajaero be arrested by the police.

This is as human rights activist and lawyer to the NLC, Chief Femi Falana, SAN, explained why Ajaero could not honour Police invitation for him to appear at the Force Headquarters yesterday, saying the labour leader can only appear on August 29.

These came as global workers’ groups and civil society organisations in the country, including Amnesty International Nigeria, ActionAid, among others, yesterday expressed angst against Ajaero’s invitation by the police.

One of the leaders of NLC, told Vanguard last night: “There are grand designs by some interest groups to silence NLC under the current leadership. But they fail to understand that we cannot be silenced.

“We are fighting a just cause. We have the right to express our views in a democracy. The workers elected us to fight and make demands for them. They are hungry, they are suffering, and they are dying and are in pain. These are what we are telling the government which they do not want to hear. These are the reasons they are after us, trying to cow us by all means.

“The operator of the bookshop (Iva Valley) has been on the second floor of Labour House for years. We did not bring him there. If he has issues with the police, what concerns us? We believe the state is using this as a cover-up. They aim to emasculate Labour because of their vested interest.”

Meanwhile, NLC has intimated the international community, the International Labour Organisation, ILO, and the International Trade Union Confederation, ITUC, over the harassment, intimidation, and Police summoning of its President, Joe Ajaero over alleged criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion and cybercrime.

Also, lawyers, under the Abuja Human Rights Lawyers and Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, led by Deji Adeyanju, and his group yesterday stormed Labour House, which is NLC headquarters, to show solidarity and vowed to follow the NLC President to the Police station whenever he was honouring the invitation.

According to lawyers, if need be, the Police should be prepared to arrest and detain all of them, alongside the NLC President.

Rights lawyer and activist, Deji Adeyanju, who confirmed this, said: “Yes, a coalition of Abuja lawyers just submitted a letter to the Police from Femi Falana, SAN, on behalf of NLC. Myself and three other lawyers, under the leadership of Femi Falana, did so today (yesterday).”

Report gathered that NLC leaders, besides sending the communiqué of the National Executive Council, NEC, meeting of yesterday to ILO, ITUC, has also intimated the international community of the grave developments of state harassment, intimidation, molestation of NLC and its leadership.

Already, the ITUC, which represents 191 million members of 337 affiliates in 167 countries and territories, including Nigeria, has raised the alarm over what it described as escalating attacks on the trade union movement in Nigeria.

ITUC in a statement by its General Secretary Luc Triangle, said: ITUC is gravely concerned by the escalating attacks on the trade union movement in Nigeria.

‘’This week, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Joe Ajaero, was summoned by the police as part of an investigation into ‘criminal conspiracy’ and ‘terrorism financing’.

‘’Earlier this month, heavily armed security forces raided and occupied the headquarters of the ITUC-affiliated NLC, arresting a union worker and wrecking the organisation’s bookshop. Reports indicated that 13 people were killed by security forces during a protest for economic justice.

“Since 2023, Nigerian trade unions have faced a campaign of harassment and intimidation, including the violent assault of Joe Ajaero in November. The situation in Nigeria is deeply concerning. These latest events come on the back of a sharp rise in intimidation and repression of trade unions.

“This includes the harassment of activists, the violation of collective bargaining rights and the violent suppression of peaceful protests.

“We see the systematic contravention of ILO conventions by the Nigerian government, particularly those related to freedom of association and the right to organise.

“Nigeria is a leader in Africa, it is important that the government there sets a good example regarding respect for human and labour rights and the rule of law. We call on the government to stop these attacks, including the intimidation and judicial harassment of Joe Ajaero and the NLC.”