The President of Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Joe Ajaero, has declared that all efforts by security operatives to intimidate and silence organised labour would eventually fail.
The labour leader also said he would honour the last police invitation he received from the police on Wednesday, September 25th.
Remember that Ajaero and the NLC headquarters had in recent times been under the radar of security agencies, especially the Police and the Department of State Services, DSS. He was even arrested while about to travel for a Trade Union conference abroad.
However, speaking to some workers and union officials in Lagos, Ajaero said:
“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.
“On August 29, we honoured the summons of the state to answer to some allegations and on the 25th of this month, we shall honour another one, this time at the police headquarters in Abuja.
“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. Comrades, you have seen it firsthand.
“As we, therefore, prepare for the struggles ahead, remember 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 expressed NLC’s gratitude to all the international organizations, particularly those within the global trade union family, who stood in unwavering solidarity with the labour 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.
“Your collective voices condemned the actions of the government against the NLC and its“leadership, and for this, we remain profoundly grateful,” Ajaero said.
