The Democratic Front (TDF) has expressed deep shock and concern over the threat of a nationwide strike issued by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the aftermath of a Police invitation to its President Joe Ajaero.
TDF said in a statement signed by its Chairman, Mallam Danjuma Muhammad, and Secretary, Chief Wale Adedayo, that it was unpatriotic for NLC to resort to threats to block a legitimate police investigation.
The statement reads in part “We are shocked by the unpatriotic behavior of the leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) with regard to the effort of security agencies to investigate allegations of criminal misdemeanor against a tenant in the Pascal Bafyau House in Abuja.
“It is rather painful to see a select few individuals that are entrusted with the moral and official responsibility to represent the collective interests of great Nigerian workers embark on a dramatic and questionable move to thwart legitimate investigations aimed at uncovering the illegal activities of a foreign citizen operating from the same building as the NLC.
“We understandably agree to a large extent, that the NLC leadership do have some moral and legal obligations towards its tenants but we equally acknowledge that the said obligations certainly does not include the act of aiding a suspect to evade legitimate investigations by security agencies.
“Their decision to raise false alarm against the security agents who went on coordinated operations in the complex, directly sabotages the very interest of the average Nigerian worker which they claim to represent, and also portrays the nation in bad light.
“Most nauseating and asinine is the NLC threat of a nation-wide strike action over a legitimate security operation conducted on the 2nd floor of the Pascal Bafyau House, which coincidentally host the NLC Secretariat on the 10th floor.
“The unwarranted threat reveals an appalling insight into the demoralizing level of ignominy, confusion and indignity which the Ajaero- led NLC has plunged labour unionism in Nigeria.
“Never in the history of the NLC has the use of strike action been so debased and misutilized like it is being done under Joe Ajaero.
“We recall the glorious era of Pa Michael Imoudu, Hassan Sumonu, Ali Ciroma, Pascal Bafyau, and Adams Oshiomhole, etc. Never were Nigerians entertained to the impudence of declaring a nationwide strike to obstruct the investigation of a foreigner over a national security breach.
“We therefore call on Nigerians to condemn and reject the postulations of Mr. Joe Ajaero, regarding the ongoing investigation of the occupant of the 2nd floor of Pascal Bafyau House in Abuja.
“We believe that the leadership of the NLC have a lot of explanations to make on why it seems to be crying more than the bereaved over an incidence that practically has no nexus with labour related issues, or the usual government-labour face-off.
“TDF also urged the security agencies to continue their investigations in good faith regardless of the hoopla and blackmail threat being raised by the NLC leadership and their cohorts.