
President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero has said the Congress has nothing to hide and as such, would not be intimidated by external pressures including the police.
Ajaero accompanied by prominent human rights lawyer and Legal Counsel to the Congress, Femi Falana, SAN, presidents of affiliate unions of the NLC, leaders of civil society organisations, and several other lawyers, arrived at the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) headquarters in Abuja on Thursday at 10:17 a.m. and left shortly after 11:15 a.m, in honour of the invitation from the IRT on allegations of terrorism financing, cybercrime, subversion, criminal conspiracy, and treasonable felony,
Speaking to newsmen upon his arrival from the IRT headquarters, Ajaero noted that the the NLC was more committed to the nation than any other institution in the country, adding that the labour movement has been one of the most steadfast supporters of Nigeria, demonstrating unwavering patriotism from the colonial era through the military regimes.
While noting that his appearance before the police was in the interest of transparency and to clear the air on the unfounded accusations levelled against him and the NLC, Ajaero stressed that the NLC remains committed to defending the rights of Nigerian workers and would not be cowed by any form of intimidation.
He said: “We can’t be intimidated. The allegations against us are baseless, and we have nothing to hide.
“The labour movement is worth dying for because of the patriotism and commitment. Labour movement is one of the biggest and Nigerian organisation, our patriotism from the days of colonial government to even the period of the military is unshakeable. As citizens we have gone there and we are back
“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 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.
“Whatever the case we are out to continue the struggle we have gotten minimum wage but it has not been implemented so we have to press for its implementation as soon as possible.
“Every other thing that will make the welfare of the Nigerian worker to be worthwhile, we will be involved in it. We will not listen to any distraction.”
Legal Counsel to the NLC, Femi Falana, SAN, had earlier maintained that Ajaero was “innocent of the heinous allegations levelled against him by the police.”
Also speaking, NLC General Secretary, Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja noted that, “Ajaero is a leader, not a terrorist. Where would he get the money to sponsor or finance terrorism?
“Is it workers’ money? It’s unfortunate that the government has chosen to go down this path. Perhaps they want to distract us with these baseless allegations so that we won’t focus on the issues affecting workers and the Nigerian people.”
On his part, National President, Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE)C omrade Hakeem Ambali, National President of NULGE, added, “The police should concentrate on addressing the insecurity that is seriously affecting Nigerians.
“The government should focus on resolving the issue of hunger that is killing our citizens. They should use their time and energy to find solutions to the numerous problems we face as a country.
“It’s absurd that out of all the people in Nigeria, it’s the NLC President they accuse of using workers’ money to sponsor terrorism. Some time ago, they promised to publish the names of those sponsoring Boko Haram, but we’ve yet to see them. Now, suddenly, it’s the Nigeria Labour Congress President they deem fit to implicate.”