The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has been released on bail following his arrest earlier in the day.
Omoyele Sowore, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, confirmed Ajaero’s release through a post on the social media platform, X (formerly known as Twitter).
Ajaero was arrested on Monday morning by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. He was on his way to the United Kingdom to attend a conference focused on workers’ rights and social justice when he was taken into custody.
Following Ajaero’s detention, the NLC issued a strong ultimatum, demanding his unconditional release by midnight on Monday or warning of severe consequences. In a communiqué released after an emergency meeting of its National Administrative Council (NAC), the NLC condemned the arrest as illegal and without justification.
The communiqué stated, “The National Administrative Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress convened an emergency meeting to address the alarming and unlawful arrest of Comrade Joe Ajaero. Comrade Ajaero was apprehended while en route to represent Nigerian workers at the Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Britain on critical matters concerning workers’ rights and social justice.”
The NLC criticized the Nigerian government for what it called an attempt to silence the labour movement and intimidate its leadership. The Council emphasized that Ajaero was performing his legitimate duties, representing the interests of Nigerian workers, and had committed no offense that warranted his detention.
“The NLC demands the immediate and unconditional release of Comrade Joe Ajaero by midnight today. His detention is not only an affront to the rights of workers but also to the fundamental democratic principles of freedom of movement and expression. Joe Ajaero is neither a fugitive nor a criminal,” the statement read.
In addition to calling for Ajaero’s release, the NLC demanded the reversal of the recent petrol price hike to N617 per litre, warning that the detention was part of a broader agenda to undermine the implementation of the new National Minimum Wage.
“The Congress places all its affiliates, state councils, civil society allies, and the Nigerian populace on red alert. This is not just an attack on the NLC leadership but on the rights of all workers and citizens to organize, protest, and express themselves freely,” the communiqué continued.
The NAC announced that an emergency meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC) would be held at 9:00 AM on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, to determine the next steps.
The NLC urged the Nigerian government to reverse what it described as a dangerous trend of authoritarianism and lawlessness, warning that such actions threaten the nation’s democracy. It also reiterated its demand for the immediate implementation of the new National Minimum Wage, stressing its unwavering commitment to defending the rights of Nigerian workers.
