By Ologeh Joseph Chibu
Joe Ajaero, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has vowed that the union will not succumb to external pressures, following his questioning at the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) headquarters in Abuja on Thursday.
Ajaero was summoned by the police to address serious allegations, including terrorism financing, cybercrime, subversion, criminal conspiracy, and treasonable felony. He arrived at the IRT office at 10:17 a.m. and was released shortly after, at 11:15 a.m.
After his release, Ajaero spoke to journalists at the Labour House, where he reaffirmed the NLC’s commitment to defending the rights of Nigerian workers, stating firmly that the union would not be intimidated.
“We can’t be intimidated,” Ajaero declared. “These allegations against us are baseless, and we have nothing to hide.”
Reflecting on the challenges that come with leading a labor movement, Ajaero recalled past experiences, saying, “You can’t do this job we’re doing without this type of hazard. Even at the unit level, some of us experienced it, as far back as 1997/1998 with Femi Falana, we were equally together in the cell during the time of Abacha… but whatever the case is, we’re out to continue the struggle, we’ve gotten minimum wage but we can’t be intimidated, we have to press for its implementation as soon as possible.”
He continued, “Every other thing that will make the welfare of the Nigerian workers worthwhile, we will be involved in it,”
Ajaero explained that his appearance before the police was a matter of transparency, aimed at dispelling the baseless accusations against him and the NLC. Despite the gravity of the charges, he maintained a confident stance, dismissing them as an attempt to undermine the labour movement.
“Our resolve is stronger than ever,” he added. “We will continue to champion the cause of workers across the nation, no matter the obstacles.”
The NLC president’s visit to the IRT headquarters came after an initial police invitation on August 20, which he was unable to attend due to unforeseen circumstances.