NLC demands release of Joe Ajaero before midnight

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has demanded the unconditional release of Joe Ajaero, its president.

In a communiqué issued on Monday at the end of an emergency meeting in Abuja, the National Administrative Council (NAC) of the NLC said the labour leader should be released before “midnight today”.

On Monday, Benson Upah, NLC spokesperson, said Ajaero was “whisked away” by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) on his way to the United Kingdom (UK), where he was invited to a conference by the Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Britain.

“After extensive deliberation, the NAC resolved as follows: the Council unequivocally condemns the brazen and illegal detention of Comrade Joe Ajaero by the Nigerian State without any legal warrant or justification,” the communiqué reads.

“The NLC notes with grave concern that Comrade Ajaero was lawfully discharging his duties to represent Nigerian workers and had not committed any offense warranting such action.

“His detention is an affront to the rights of workers and the democratic principles of freedom of movement and expression.

“The NLC demands the immediate and unconditional release of Comrade Joe Ajaero before 12 midnight today.

“The Council unequivocally condemns the brazen and illegal detention of Comrade Joe Ajaero by the Nigerian State without any legal warrant or justification.”

The congress said Ajaero’s detention was intimidation to silence dissent and stifle labour movement’s voice, adding that it attacked workers’ and citizens’ rights to organise and express themselves freely.

Reacting to the recent hike in the pump price of petrol, the NLC asked for a reversal to N167 per litre, noting that it would watch while the rights of Nigerians are trampled.

The labour body said it has scheduled a meeting of its national executive council (NEC) for Tuesday to determine a response if Ajaero is not released.

The NLC reiterated its unwavering commitment to protecting the rights of workers and the freedom of all Nigerians amidst the federal government’s “dangerous trend of authoritarianism and lawlessness.”