The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has dismissed reports suggesting that its President, Joe Ajaero, was invited by the Department of State Services (DSS) but failed to respond, leading to his arrest. The NLC called these claims false and misleading, emphasizing that Ajaero has a history of respecting invitations from authorities.
Ajaero was arrested by the DSS at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, while en route to London for a Trade Union Congress (TUC) conference. In response to the widespread criticism of the DSS’s actions, the Presidency stated that no individual is above the law and suggested that Ajaero should have complied with the security agency’s request.
However, claims that Ajaero deliberately ignored the DSS invitation prompted the NLC to issue a statement clarifying the situation and correcting the narrative.
**NLC’s Response: ‘He Was Never Invited’**
In a statement by Benson Upah, the NLC’s Head of Information and Public Affairs, the organization denied that Ajaero had been formally invited by the DSS before his arrest. The NLC explained that prior to the arrest, Ajaero had engaged in a discussion with the DSS Director-General during a courtesy visit. A follow-up conversation between a DSS Director and the NLC General Secretary resulted in an agreement to schedule another visit, with the understanding that a 48-hour notice would be provided.
The statement further explained that Ajaero had informed the DSS Director-General of his travel plans, intending to make the visit upon his return. However, after missing his initial Sunday flight, Ajaero’s travel was rescheduled for Monday, September 9th. It was on that Monday morning that he was arrested by the DSS as part of a “watch list” operation conducted on behalf of another agency.
The NLC reiterated that Ajaero is a law-abiding citizen, leading a patriotic organization with a history of international repute. The Congress emphasized that he would never disregard an invitation from the DSS, stating, “He is a trade unionist of global standing, serving on executive boards of world trade union federations, with a constituency that extends beyond Nigeria.”
The NLC’s statement aims to “set the record straight” regarding the circumstances surrounding Ajaero’s arrest and reinforce his reputation as a respected leader within the labor movement.
