A coalition of civil society organisations has asked the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, to resign over what it described as interference in the affairs of the Senate.
The group, under the aegis of the Campaign for the Protection of Workers’ Rights in Nigeria, made the call on Monday at a press briefing in Kano.
Speaking at the event themed “NLC Meddlesomeness on the Affairs of the Senate; A Call for Caution”, the National Coordinator of the coalition, Comrade Abubakar Ado, faulted Ajaero’s reported threat to declare an indefinite strike if Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was not recalled.
He described the stance as an “unsavoury assault on democracy” and undue interference in judicial processes, pointing out that the matter was already before a court of law.
According to him, the NLC under Ajaero has derailed from its primary responsibility of protecting workers’ interests.
“The NLC was created for the sole purpose of advancing the welfare of Nigerian workers, but it has now become a willing tool in the hands of politicians. Ajaero should resign from the labour movement and join a political party of his choice,” he said.
The coalition further said Nigerians expect the congress to focus on issues such as insecurity, inflation and welfare of workers instead of what it termed “political battles.”
“The Senate and the judiciary are vital to our democracy. Any attempt to undermine their independence is an affront to the rule of law,” Ado added.