Arrest Of NLC’s Ajaero: Workers Threaten Massive Nationwide Shutdown, Vow To Throw The Nation Into Darkness

The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) has threatened to shut down the power sector if Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) President, Joe Ajaero is arrested.

This comes after the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the Nigerian Police Force invited Ajaero on August 19 for questioning over allegations including criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion, and cybercrime.

In response, NUEE’s Acting General Secretary, Igwebike Dominic, condemned the police action as a politically motivated attempt to harass and intimidate Ajaero. He described the charges as baseless, accusing the government of resorting to “witch-hunting, harassment, intimidation, and name-calling” instead of addressing the real issues.

Dominic criticized the government’s actions as a violation of democratic principles and the rights guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution and International Labour Organization Conventions. He warned that if Ajaero is arrested, NUEE will have no choice but to follow NLC directives, including mobilizing its members across the power sector to withdraw their services.

NUEE called on its leadership at all levels to prepare for immediate action if Ajaero is detained and urged the Federal Government to exercise caution, noting that the country is already “angry and heated up” due to widespread hunger and inflation.

“The rights of citizens must be respected and guaranteed if the country must move forward,” the statement emphasized.