Electricity Workers threaten Nationwide Power Shutdown if Ajaero is Arrested

The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) has issued a stern warning, threatening to shut down the power sector if its General Secretary and President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, is arrested on what they describe as “trumped-up charges” of terrorism financing, cybercrime, subversion, criminal conspiracy, and treasonable felony.

This follows the recent invitation of Ajaero by the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) on Monday, August 19, for questioning related to these serious allegations. The Deputy Commissioner of Police, IRT, in a letter, directed Ajaero to appear at the IRT office on August 20, warning that he would face arrest if he failed to comply.

In a statement responding to the development, NUEE’s Acting General Secretary, Igwebike Dominic, expressed deep concern over what the union perceives as a politically motivated attack on Ajaero. Dominic condemned the police invitation, labeling it as part of a broader effort to harass and intimidate labor leaders, particularly following the recent unlawful invasion of the NLC National Headquarters.

“It is not only embarrassing but also a testament to the Federal Government’s penchant for witch-hunting, harassment, and intimidation, rather than addressing the pressing issues affecting Nigerians,” Dominic stated. He criticized the government’s actions as an attempt to stifle labor movements and suppress free speech, warning that such tactics only exacerbate the suffering of ordinary citizens.

Dominic further lambasted the government’s approach, stating, “In a democracy, where governance is supposed to be ‘of the people, by the people, and for the people,’ we are instead witnessing a government of the few, for themselves, and against the people.”

The union condemned what it described as the government’s blatant abuse of the Nigerian Constitution and International Labour Organization conventions, particularly Conventions 87 and 98, which protect the rights of workers and labor unions. NUEE vowed to resist any further government interference in the labor movement, warning that any attempt to arrest Ajaero would lead to a nationwide shutdown of electricity services in line with NLC directives.

“We are calling on our national, zonal, state, and chapter leadership to begin immediate mobilization of our members across Generation, Transmission, and Distribution sectors to withdraw our services if Comrade Joe Ajaero is arrested,” Dominic declared.

NUEE also urged the Federal Government to reconsider its actions, emphasizing that the country is already on edge due to widespread hunger and hyperinflation. The union warned that these conditions are uniting the poor in their demands for good governance, and any further provocation could lead to severe consequences.

“The government must address the root causes of poverty and hardship instead of engaging in pretentious and futile pursuits,” the statement concluded. “The rights of citizens must be respected and guaranteed if the country is to move forward.”