The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has declared that it will not be cowed by the federal government.
NLC President Joe Ajaero criticized the government’s recent actions, including the raid on the NLC headquarters, threatening letters from the Registrar of Trade Unions, and the arrest of Opalua Eleojo from the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), as attempts to intimidate organized labour.
Ajaero also accused the government of dishonesty, highlighting unfulfilled promises such as the false claim of selling a 50kg bag of rice for ₦40,000.
He addressed these issues during a press conference in Abuja, emphasizing that the government’s threats to limit union leaders’ terms to two years violate labor laws and international conventions.
The NLC disputed statements from the Nigeria Police Public Relations Officer, Olumuwiya Adejobi, which downplayed the significance of the raid.
They argued that if there were genuine security concerns, the police should have communicated directly with NLC leaders.
Ajaero urged the government to cease its intimidation tactics and focus on addressing pressing economic issues affecting Nigerians.
