Nigerian telecom and power sector workers have issued a stern warning to shut down the national grid and telecom services at midnight on Wednesday if the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, is detained by the Nigeria Police Force. The threat comes in response to a police summons issued to Ajaero on charges of terrorism financing and other allegations.
On Tuesday, Dominic Igwebike, General Secretary of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), and Mary Nwosu, General Secretary of the National Union of Postal and Telecommunications Employees (NUPTE), released separate statements signaling their unions’ readiness to take drastic action if Ajaero is taken into custody.
The situation escalated when Ajaero received a police invitation for questioning on Tuesday, stemming from a letter sent the previous day. However, in a swift response, Ajaero declined the invitation, citing the short notice. He did, however, agree to appear for questioning on Wednesday, August 29.
In anticipation of possible detention, NUEE, NUPTE, and other unions have vowed to down tools if the police proceed with Ajaero’s arrest. The NUEE, which represents workers in the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), issued a notice to its members stating: “Upon any arrest of the NLC President or any other Labour Leader, all workers are to down tools from 12 midnight, 21 August 2024.”
NUPTE, which represents workers in Nigeria’s postal and telecommunications sectors, echoed NUEE’s stance, reinforcing the possibility of a nationwide strike that could cripple essential services. The unions’ unified threat underscores the severity of the situation and their determination to protect their leadership from what they perceive as intimidation tactics by the authorities.
Following an emergency meeting on Tuesday, the NLC also announced its intention to launch a nationwide strike if Ajaero is detained. This potential strike could have significant ramifications for Nigeria’s economy, as the power and telecom sectors are vital to the country’s infrastructure. A shutdown of these services would likely lead to widespread disruptions, affecting everything from business operations to daily communications and electricity supply.
