The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has convened an emergency meeting following the shocking arrest of its president, Joe Ajaero, by security operatives on Monday. Ajaero was apprehended at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, moments before boarding a flight to attend a scheduled meeting of the International Trade Union Congress in the United Kingdom.
In a statement released by Benson Upah, the NLC’s Head of Information and Public Affairs, the union confirmed Ajaero’s arrest and demanded his **immediate and unconditional release**. The NLC also condemned what it described as the growing harassment of labor leaders and Nigerian citizens who hold dissenting views.
The NLC has placed all its affiliates, state councils, civil society partners, and patriotic Nigerians on red alert in response to this alarming development. Upah indicated that the Congress is currently in an emergency closed-door meeting to decide on its next steps, promising to release a public statement once the meeting concludes.
The NLC detailed the events leading up to Ajaero’s arrest, explaining that he was on his way to address the global gathering of workers at the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in the UK. This platform is crucial for discussing workers’ rights, social justice, and economic fairness. According to the union, they have been unable to ascertain Ajaero’s current location or his state of health, raising concerns for his safety.
The NLC also clarified that no legal warrant or formal documentation was presented during Ajaero’s arrest, labeling it a “brazen act of lawlessness and intimidation.” Ajaero, the union stated, is not a fugitive and should not have been treated as such.
In its statement, the NLC criticized the Nigerian government for what it sees as a deliberate attempt to silence opposition voices as the country continues to suffer under harsh economic policies. The Congress warned that such undemocratic actions are a direct affront to the fundamental rights of citizens and organizations to freely express their views.
The NLC is calling on the international community, human rights organizations, and advocates of democracy to take note of what they describe as the rising wave of authoritarianism in Nigeria. The union insists that the world must witness the Nigerian government’s actions, which threaten civil liberties and the rule of law.
The NLC reiterated its commitment to protecting the rights of Nigerian workers and warned that it will not be silenced by what it described as the “oppressive tactics” of the state. They are demanding not only the immediate release of Joe Ajaero but also the cessation of all forms of harassment against labor leaders, the working class, and citizens who hold dissenting opinions.
In a final appeal, the union called for the release of all Nigerians currently imprisoned for exercising their right to protest, particularly those detained during the #EndBadGovernance rallies. The NLC vowed to continue fighting for justice and workers’ rights in the face of increasing government oppression.
