The leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Abia State has placed workers on standby for immediate industrial action if the police arrest National President Comrade Joe Ajaero.
This alert is detailed in a circular jointly issued by State NLC Chairman Comrade Okoro Ogbonnaya and Secretary Emma Alozie in Umuahia.
DAILY POST notes that the police recently invited Ajaero for questioning over allegations of terrorism financing and treason. This move has sparked public outcry and global condemnation, with some viewing it as an attempt to intimidate labor and critics of President Bola Tinubu’s government into silence.
Amid recent nationwide protests against hunger and poor governance, the police also raided the Labour national secretariat in Abuja, seizing documents.
The Abia NLC has stated it will not issue further warnings about industrial action. Instead, it will initiate an indefinite strike at midnight on the day Ajaero or any other labor leader is arrested.
The notice reads in part: “Following the invitation issued to Comrade Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), all management, industrial unions, and workers in the Abia Civil Service are hereby informed as follows:
“Should the arrest of the NLC President or any other labor leader occur due to this unjustified and untimely invitation, workers are to commence a strike from midnight on the same day.
“While awaiting further instructions on the mode of engagement, whether strike, protest, etc., this notice serves as our official communication to all concerned.
“State Government, security agencies, civil liberty organizations, the general public, and media outlets should take note as workers prepare for the next course of action.
“All industrial unions, both public and private, are instructed to disseminate this notice to their units and branches and to begin mobilization of their members for full compliance.”
