Ahead of Thursday's appearance of the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, before Police authorities, the union has directed its members across the country to embark on a peaceful prayer procession tomorrow.
The NLC has also asked all its affiliate unions, state councils, and national officers to mobilise their members to show solidarity for Ajaero on Thursday, August 29.
General Secretary of the NLC, Emmanuel Ugboaja in a circular released in Abuja on Wednesday and addressed to all affiliates and state councils, said the procession is a response to what the NLC perceives as trumped-up charges against Ajaero.
The circular titled “Mobilisation for Peaceful Procession and Prayer Session in Solidarity,” explained that "the peaceful march is a united stand against the unjust actions aimed at intimidating our leadership and stifling the voice of Nigerian workers."
It read: "We call on all NLC affiliates and state councils to mobilise their members in Abuja and across the states to show solidarity. All Central Working Committee members resident in Abuja and other members are expected to assemble at the National Headquarters of the NLC by 8:00 a.m. on 29th August.
“This is to accompany the President to the police for the scheduled interaction. We urge all members to remain peaceful and orderly throughout the procession and prayer session. If, for any reason, the President is detained, all workers nationwide shall proceed on an indefinite strike.
“Your unwavering support and solidarity at this critical time are crucial to defending civil rights and the integrity and rights of the labour movement. Together, we shall overcome these challenges and continue to uphold justice, fairness, and democracy in our dear nation."
The police had last week invited Ajaero to appear before its force intelligence response team on August 20 for questioning over a case of alleged criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion, and cybercrime.
But the NLC president declined the invitation, demanding details of the allegations levelled against him before he would make an appearance.
His lawyer, Femi Falana, in a letter to the police stated that he would be unable to honour the invitation due to a prior engagement scheduled before the invitation was received but agreed to make himself available on August 29.
Prior to the invitation, the police alongside other security agencies, stormed the head office of the NLC in search of items that it said were linked to a wanted and notorious terrorist.
