The Nigeria Labour Congress has directed its members and all workers in the country to shut down the economy if the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) arrests the NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero.

The police had summoned Ajaero for questioning over alleged treason and terrorism financing.

The police, in a letter addressed to Ajaero, said the NLC boss would be arrested if he failed to honour the invitation on Tuesday, August 20, 2024.

Reacting to the development, the NLC summoned an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting at the Labour House where it resolved to write to the police for an extension of time to enable the union to consult its lawyers.

Speaking to workers in Abuja on Tuesday, the NLC Deputy President, Kabiru Ado Sani, said Ajaero’s invitation by the police was an invitation to workers.

Sani said: “At the end of the meeting, we reached some certain resolutions. Part of the resolution is that, as a committed labour centre, we agreed or that we abide by the rule of law and due process.

“We will honour the invitation of the Nigerian police because we are not a 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 a.m. today.

Police summon NLC President Ajaero for terrorism financing

“So we are already working with our lawyers to look for extension of time, but this does not legitimise the charges by the Nigerian police to the Congress leadership.

“Secondly, we resolve that in an 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 organisation belongs to all of us, therefore we should do everything possible to safeguard the safety of this organisation. We, therefore, 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 with you. So we urge you to remain calm and go back peacefully to our workplace and await further directives.”

The Star