The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has said it will not be silenced by state-sponsored harassment, intimidation, attacks and persecution, following the invitation of its President, Joe Ajaero, by the police on allegations of criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion and cybercrime.

Naija News reports that one of the leaders of NLC in an interview with Vanguard said it remained committed to its opposition to mass suffering and hunger occasioned by the anti-people policies of the Federal Government, saying some interest groups are doing everything possible to silence the current leadership of Congress.

NLC also called on its affiliates to shut down the economy should Ajaero be arrested by the police.

The leader said, “There are grand designs by some interest groups to silence NLC under the current leadership. But they fail to understand that we cannot be silenced.

“We are fighting a just cause. We have the right to express our views in a democracy. The workers elected us to fight and make demands for them. They are hungry, they are suffering, and they are dying and are in pain. These are what we are telling the government which they do not want to hear. These are the reasons they are after us, trying to cow us by all means.

“The operator of the bookshop (Iva Valley) has been on the second floor of Labour House for years. We did not bring him there. If he has issues with the police, what concerns us? We believe the state is using this as a cover-up. They aim to emasculate Labour because of their vested interest.”

Meanwhile, human rights activist and lawyer to the NLC, Femi Falana, SAN, has explained why Ajaero could not honour Police invitation for him to appear at the Force Headquarters on Tuesday, saying the labour leader can only appear on August 29.