Police invitation to Ajaero: More critical unions give strike notices
This came on a day the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, ILWU, based in North Point, San Francisco, United States of America, petitioned the Nigerian Embassy in Washington, faulting the perceived harassment and persecution of trade unions and their leaders in Nigeria.
Among unions that had already given strike notices to their members are the National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE; Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT; and National Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, NUTGTWN.
Others include MWUN; Iron and Steel Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, ISSAN; Fitters Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, FISSAN; Nigeria Union of Agriculture and Allied Employees, NUAAE; National Union of Railway Workers, NUR; Nigeria Civil Service Union, NCSU; and National Union of Postal and Telecommunication Employees, NUPTE.
MWUN in a circular to its local leaders in all port formations in Lagos, Warri, Calabar and Port Harcourt, said its members would comply with the strike directive.
Deputy Secretary-General of the union, Oniha Erazua, said the directive for indefinite nationwide strike was also extended to terminals, jetties, dry ports and oil export terminals.
The notice read: “The decision follows an emergency National Executive Council, NEC, meeting of the NLC held on Tuesday, August 20, 2024, in response to what the Congress describes as a ‘persistent orchestrated attack’ on the labour movement by the Nigeria Police Force, NPF.
“As an affiliate of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, we are in compliance and have consequently directed all our members to commence the mobilization of our members to effectively ensure their participation in the nationwide indefinite strike and be on red alert.
“The strike, set to begin at midnight, is a protest against the NPF’s investigation into NLC leadership, including charges of terrorism financing, cybercrime, subversion, criminal conspiracy, and treasonable felony, which the NLC has condemned as ‘clearly unfounded and politically motivated.’
MWUN’s leadership emphasized the urgency and importance of the strike, calling on all members to unite in solidarity with the NLC and the broader Nigerian working class.
“This decision is due to the clearly unfounded and politically motivated police investigation… labelled against the Congress President and the Nigeria working class.
“As the deadline for the strike approaches, MWUN has instructed its members to remain vigilant and fully prepared to participate in the industrial action, which is expected to significantly impact the maritime sector and related industries nationwide,’’ the union stated further.
NUT asks teachers to prepare for a nationwide strike, if…
On its part, the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, also directed teachers nationwide to down tools and begin an indefinite strike should the Police arrest Ajaero.
NUT in a circular to its state wings nationwide by its President and Acting Secretary-General, Audu Amba and Abdullahi Mohammed, said: “As you may be aware, the President of NLC was invited by the Nigeria Police Force on the premise of an unfounded and politically motivated investigation into alleged terrorism financing, cybercrime, subversion, criminal conspiracy, and treasonable felony.
‘’The Congress considers the act of harassment and intimidation as an attempt by the Police to stifle the voice of the working people as represented by the Leadership of Congress.
“Consequently, the NEC of the NLC met and resolved to, among other things, direct all affiliates and state councils to immediately commence the process of mobilizing their members across the nation as the Congress would not hesitate to take all necessary actions to protect the integrity and independence of the labour movement.
“In the light of the above, the NUT hereby directs all state wings of the union to mobilize all teachers and be prepared to proceed on an indefinite nationwide strike , if anything happens to the President or any other leader of the Congress.
“The NUT stands with the NLC in this struggle to uphold justice, fairness, and the rule of law in our nation. All state wings are, therefore, directed to be on alert as they await further directives.
US-based union fumes
Meanwhile, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, ILWU, based in North Point, San Francisco, United States, has lashed out at the Nigerian security agencies for alleged persecution of the labour movement in Nigeria
In a letter to the Nigerian Embassy in Washington DC, ILWU President, Trent Willis, said: “The International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 10, which represents longshoremen working in the San Francisco Bay Area, protests in the strongest terms this attack against our fellow trade-unionists.
‘’We demand that all the seized materials be returned and that there be no further reprisals against the NLC.
“This raid came just hours after the NLC held a meeting critical of your government’s repression against students and others who have been protesting over the last two weeks against the austerity measures imposed by your government. Scores of protesters have been killed.
“Hundreds more, including prominent protest leaders, have been arrested and many are still in jail.
‘’These include protest leaders such as Adaramoye Michael (“Michael Lenin”), national coordinator of the Youth Rights Campaign, Mosiu Sodiq, Eleojo Opaluwa and Babatunde Oluajo (“OSB Sankara”). ‘’According to the latest reports, Michael, Sodiq and Eleojo remain in custody. The NLC rightly condemned your attempt to criminalize protest.
“We have active members of our union who were born in Nigeria and who maintain ties with their homeland. The international labour movement is watching. We demand an end to the repression and freedom for all the detainees, hands off the NLC.”
