- Don’t Be Used As Tool To Silence Labour, CISLAC Tells Police
Fresh outrage has trailed the allegation of terrorism financing allegation levelled against the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Joe Ajaero.
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and the Trade Union Congress have become the latest bodies to express their displeasure on the development.
CISLAC warned the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) against being used as a tool to silence the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
In a statement on Wednesday, Auwal Rafsanjani, executive director of CISLAC, expressed concern over the invitation, noting that while the organisation is not opposed to the police conducting investigations, it is crucial for the process to be transparent.
“CISLAC recalls that on Wednesday, August 7, 2024, the NLC complex, popularly known as Labour House, was besieged by heavily armed security personnel,” Rafsanjani said.
READ ALSO: NLC Threatens Nationwide Strike Over Ajaero’s Invitation
“This invasion occurred just hours after the NLC’s National Executive Council meeting, where members condemned the heavy-handed tactics employed by security agents during the #EndBadGovernance protests.”
According to CISLAC, the NLC president was summoned by the office of the deputy commissioner of police, Intelligence Response Team (IRT), over allegations of criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion, and cybercrime.
The invitation, outlined in an official letter, required Ajaero to appear for an interview on Tuesday, August 20, 2024, at the IRT Complex in Guzape, Abuja.
Rafsanjani warned that this action has the potential to “damage” the global reputation of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, as it could be perceived as an “attempt to stifle civil liberties”.
He advised the president to personally ensure that measures are taken to prevent the “demarketing” of his administration.
Ajaero, who was initially invited to meet with the police on Tuesday, rescheduled the meeting to Wednesday, August 29, 2024, citing his unavailability on the earlier date.
READ ALSO: NLC Boss Summoned Over Terrorism Allegations
Similarly, the President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Festus Osifo faulted the invitation of Ajaero, accusing the Nigerian government of intimidating the labour movement.
Speaking as a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Osifo asked the authorities to unveil the offences allegedly committed by Ajaero.
“You could see that as of today, there was a response from our lawyer, Femi Falana, saying that the government should come clean and tell us what are the offences.
“They should open up much more because Nigerians need to know. The way it is generally perceived today is that you are muzzling the labour movement. Joe Ajaero does not present himself. Anything that he is doing, he is doing it on behalf of the members of the Nigeria Labour Congress.
“For us, we will continue to be advocates to push government to do what is right in all ramifications.” he said.
