The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has raised concerns about the federal government’s alleged attempts to intimidate and undermine the union’s leadership following the suspension of a nationwide strike.
NLC president, Joe Ajaero, halted the two-day strike, citing its “overwhelming success” on the first day.
However, fresh demands were issued, accompanied by a 14-day ultimatum to the Bola Tinubu-led government concerning the escalating economic challenges.
Addressing journalists in Abuja, Ajaero accused the government of employing divide-and-rule strategies, leading to the suspension of the protest due to threats and intimidation.
He expressed dismay over the militarization of NLC headquarters and state offices, asserting the union’s resilience against coercion.
“Each time they invite us for meetings, we will attend and listen to them because if we don’t attend, they will blackmail us. You are aware that they held a meeting with us till late on Sunday. While that meeting was on, they wrote letters to all the unions to undermine us,” Ajaero said.
“You’re meeting with the leadership of the NLC, and you’re still inviting every union in the country to undermine us. Even at that meeting, where I was talking, they wanted two of my deputies to be talking, so that we don’t have leaders, but we survived all that.
“There is nothing on earth they have not done to subvert the NLC. Nothing! And we’re still waxing stronger. So, if they invite us for a meeting, we will still go and listen because we have our views, we have our positions, and we will still gently present our positions. We won’t say we’re not going except when we realise that henceforth, the NLC will no longer be comfortable attending meetings on the eve of any action. Never again! It was a waste of time, waste of energy and nothing comes from such meetings.
“It was to delay us, to demobilise us, and to make people have the impression that we went there to discuss other issues, apart from the issues on ground. This is our new resolve.
“You (FG) can no longer call us for a meeting when we have action tomorrow or next tomorrow, and you delay us till 11pm, 12am in the night, so that we won’t come out to mobilise for action. Such a strategy is obsolete. I think they should adopt new strategies.”