NLC President: Attempts to Silence Us Will Not Succeed

President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has affirmed that all efforts to intimidate and silence the organized labour movement will fail.

He also announced plans to honor a police invitation on Wednesday, September 25, following recent scrutiny by security agencies.

Ajaero has been under the watch of the Police and the Department of State Services (DSS) in recent times.

Reflecting on his experience, he stated, “Recently, I was arrested and detained by the state, a clear attempt to intimidate and silence our movement. They hoped to find wrongdoing, but we have kept faith alive. We must all do the same.”

Previous Encounters with Authorities

Ajaero revealed that on August 29, he responded to an earlier police summons. He is now preparing to honor another one on September 25 at the police headquarters in Abuja.

He emphasized the importance of integrity in the labor movement: “Let me say the strength of our movement lies not only in our resolve but also in the integrity with which we conduct ourselves. Our hands must remain unsullied, our hearts pure so that when the enemies of our movement come, as they will, they will find nothing to use against us.”

Ajaero called on the union to remain united in the face of challenges. “They can imprison our bodies, but they cannot imprison our spirit. They can throw every obstacle on our path, but they cannot destroy our unity. We must be vigilant, united, and ready to stand firm in the face of whatever may come,” he urged.

Gratitude to Global Supporters

The NLC president also expressed deep appreciation to international organizations and trade unions that stood in solidarity with the movement during its recent challenges.

“We are especially thankful to the International Labour Organization (ILO), the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), ITUC-Africa, Public Services International (PSI), Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), the Trade Union Congress (TUC) of the UK, IndustriALL Global Union, the German Federation of Trade Unions, LO Norway, and all the patriotic Nigerians,” Ajaero said.

He concluded by acknowledging the collective support that condemned the government’s actions against the NLC, noting, “Your collective voices condemned the actions of the government against the NLC and its leadership, and for this, we remain profoundly grateful.”

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