The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has debunked claims that its president, Joe Ajaero, ignored an invitation from the Department of State Services (DSS). The clarification came in a statement on Wednesday from Benson Upah, NLC’s spokesperson, who emphasized that Ajaero is a law-abiding citizen and would never disregard any law enforcement agency.
The controversy started on Monday when Joe Ajaero was arrested at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. Ajaero was reportedly about to board a flight to the United Kingdom (UK) for an event organized by Britain’s Trade Union Congress (TUC) when DSS operatives detained him.
Following his arrest, the NLC issued a nationwide alert, urging all affiliates, state councils, and Nigerian workers to remain vigilant and on high alert. The labour union demanded Ajaero’s “unconditional” release, which the DSS granted later that night.
Ajaero’s arrest stemmed from his failure to respond to a police invitation regarding a petition filed by Air Peace Airlines. Sources further alleged that Ajaero ignored a DSS summons related to a case of extortion. However, Omotade Makinwa, spokesperson for Air Peace, clarified that the petition was withdrawn a year ago, raising questions about the timing of the arrest.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian presidency weighed in on the situation, stating that no one, including Ajaero, is above the law. It was noted that he failed to attend multiple summonses from law enforcement agencies.
In response to the widespread claims, Benson Upah urged the public to disregard the report that Ajaero had snubbed the DSS. He explained that just days before the arrest, Ajaero had a productive meeting with the DSS Director-General (DG) on a courtesy visit, further confirming his willingness to cooperate.
Upah added that on the day of the arrest, the DSS director had contacted the NLC General Secretary to arrange another meeting. Due to scheduling conflicts, the meeting was postponed until Friday, September 13. The DSS was reportedly notified that Ajaero would be traveling on Sunday, September 8, with the courtesy visit to be rescheduled after his return.
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However, Ajaero missed his flight on Sunday and rescheduled it for Monday, September 9. It was during his attempt to board the rescheduled flight that he was arrested in a watch list operation conducted on behalf of another agency.
In the statement, Upah reiterated that Joe Ajaero is a respected and law-abiding citizen who has a long history of upholding the law. As the leader of Nigeria’s largest labour union, Ajaero’s track record of patriotism and international influence speaks volumes.
“He is a trade unionist of international repute, serving on the executive boards of world federations of trade unions,” the statement added. “It is not in his character to disregard invitations, and his past actions, including honoring a police invitation, attest to this.”
While Ajaero has been released, the circumstances surrounding his arrest continue to raise concerns within the labour union and the broader Nigerian public. The NLC has called for continued vigilance and solidarity among Nigerian workers, emphasizing that they will stand by Ajaero as the situation unfolds.
