President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, on Thursday left the the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) headquarters in Abuja, declaring that the Nigeria’s Organised Labour movement cannot be intimidated by external pressures, adding that the movement is worth dying for.
Ajaero, who was invited by the police to address allegations of terrorism financing, cybercrime, subversion, criminal conspiracy, and treasonable felony, arrived at the IRT office at 10:17 a.m. and left shortly after 11:15 a.m.
Speaking to journalists at the Labour House after leaving the police headquarters, Ajaero asserted that the NLC remains committed to defending the rights of Nigerian workers and will not be cowed by any form of intimidation.
Speaking to journalists at the Labour House after leaving the police headquarters, Ajaero asserted that the NLC remained committed to defending the rights of Nigerian workers and would not be cowed by any form of intimidation.
The labour leader, who sang solidarity songs before the cheering crowd said, “Comrades I want to thank every one of you, thank all Comrades in the states and in various states Commands that are praying and those that have been fasting for four days can break their fast now.
“Comrades, the labour movement is worth dying for because of its patriotism and commitment. The labour movement is one of the biggest pan-Nigerian organisations our patriotism from the days of colonial government till even the period of the military is unshakable.
“We are more patriotic than any other institution you can think of in this country and we are going to continue to be that.
“We have gone there and we are back and I just want to confirm to you that as a citizen I have gone there and we are back here. And. you can’t do this job we are doing without this type of hazard, it is expected.
“This is the highlight of the job. Even at the unit level some of us experience this. As far back as 1997, 1998 I was telling Falana, we were equally together in the cell enjoying ourselves during the time of Abacha.
“Comrades what is important is the circumstances that took us to that place but whatever is the case, we are out to continue the struggle. We are out, 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 Nigeria worker worthwhile, we will be involved in it, we will not listen to any distraction.
“On behalf of the NLC NAC and NEC and CWC and the level of solidarity they showed here, I want to thank every one of you, I didn’t know that you loved me like this.
“So may the Almighty God continue to multiply you, tell everybody, tell Nigerians from all walks of life, we are committed to their welfare.”
Also speaking, one of the lawyers who accompanied the NLC President to the Police, Maxwell Opara, said, “There is no cause for alarm, what we had was quite different from what was contained in the letter.
“But whatever is the case, now that they have learnt their lessons and corrected themselves, we have taken it in that manner.
“They said that they wanted to ask the NLC President one or two questions concerning the tenant that is there. He just narrated what he knew about it and that is just it.
“So that does not mean that we are going to relent, because we don’t know what will come out next, so we are supposed to get ourselves prepared and we are also using this medium to call them to either release the minors that were arrested during the protest and all those in their detention or take them to court.”
Before the NLC President alongside lawyers representing the Congress led by the human rights activist, Chief Femi Falana, SAN, in the company of Maxwell Opara, Deji Adeyanju and others went to honour the invitation, Chief Falana had told different unions that assembled at the Labour House in solidarity with the Comrade President to stay back, assuring them that there was no cause for alarm.