Joe Ajaero, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, on Monday failed to honour an invitation from the Nigeria Police Force over his alleged link to terrorism financing.
In a letter from the labour leader’s counsels, Falana and Falana Chambers, addressed to the Inspector General of Police, Ajaero gave late arrival of the invitation and his prior engagements as reasons.
“We are solicitors to the Nigeria Labour Congress and its President, Joe Ajaero…,” the letter read.
“We have the instructions of Ajaero to inform you that he is unable to honour your invitation on Tuesday, August 20, in view of the fact that your invitation letter was received by him yesterday. He has an engagement that had been fixed before the receipt of the invitation letter.”
The letter proposed Wednesday, August 29, 2024 as an alternative date.
Meanwhile, the leadership of the NLC has threatened to declare nationwide industrial action if Ajaero is detained.
Rising from an emergency meeting of the National Executive Council to discuss the invitation on Tuesday, the union resolved that Ajaero should honour the police invitation but noted that their legal adviser should seek more time for the NLC President to appear before the police authorities.
Comrade Ado Kabiru Sani, the Deputy President of the NLC, said: “As a committed labour centre, we will honour the invitation of the police because we are not a faceless organisation, but we are working with our lawyer for an extension of time.
“In the event that the President is arrested, all workers will down tools immediately. We should wait for further directives from our leadership.”