The President of the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, Joe Ajaero, has vowed to continue to champion workers’ welfare. This is even as he was questioned by the police over allegations of terrorism financing and other crimes.
The labour leader stated this after he returned from the office of the Nigeria Police Force Intelligence Response Team (IRT) in Abuja on Thursday.
Recall that Ajaero had gone to the Nigeria Police Force station to honour an invitation extended to him by the police.
The labour President who addressed his supporters and journalists at the Pascal Bafyau Labour House headquarters, Abuja shortly after he returned, vowed to continue fighting for the Nigerian workers. He stated that he would continue to press for the implementation of a new minimum wage and other labour demands.
Responding to the cheers from his supporters, Ajaero said, “For this level of solidarity, I want to thank every one of you.”
“Tell every Nigerian worker that we are committed to your welfare.
“We have gone there and we are back. You can’t do this job without facing such hazards. It’s expected. Even at the unit level, some of us experience this.
“We will not listen to any distraction. On behalf of the NLC, NAC, NEC, and CWC, for the solidarity they have shown, I want to say thank you.”
Ajaero also narrated his long history of labour activism and detentions he had suffered.
He stated that he had been detained alongside human rights lawyer Femi Falana during the military regime of Sani Abacha in 1998.
Ajaero, therefore, emphasized that the current circumstances would not deter him from his mission.
“We have secured a new minimum wage that has yet to be implemented, and we will press for its enforcement as soon as possible,” he declared.
Recall that the police had on August 19 invited the NLC President to appear before it to answer to charges of alleged criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion and cybercrime.
The invitation came after the police raided the NLC headquarters in Abuja on August 7. During the operation, security operatives broke into the building’s second floor and ransacked a bookshop.
Recall that the labour leader was asked by the police to come on August 20. He, however, through his lawyers, Femi Falana Chambers, requested more time to appear on August 29.
Speaking on the development, the Secretary of the Congress, Opara revealed what transpired at the station. He said Ajaero was not questioned on the allegations for which he was invited.
Opara stated the police questioned the NLC President about a tenant in the NLC building. That was contrary to the rather severe crimes initially mentioned in the press.
“Just to correct the impression, what we heard is quite different from what was contained in the invitation letter.”
“Now that they have learned their lessons and corrected themselves. We have accepted it in that manner. That doesn’t mean we are going to relent,” Opara said.
Opara also called for the release of minors detained during the #EndBadGovernance protests.
source: Premium Times
Follow us for more news on our WhatsApp News Channels @
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaC505jB4hdZ5Yx9g82U
