The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has initiated an emergency closed-door meeting in response to the arrest of its president, Joe Ajaero, by agents of the Nigerian government. This development was confirmed by Benson Upah, the NLC’s Head of Public Relations, on Monday.
According to Upah, Ajaero was seized by Nigerian state agents without a legal warrant or any formal documentation. His current whereabouts and health status remain unknown, raising significant concerns within the labor community.
The NLC has vehemently condemned the arrest, describing it as a “brazen act of lawlessness and intimidation,” and is demanding Ajaero’s immediate and unconditional release.
In a statement, the NLC also called on the international community, human rights organizations, and democracy advocates to pay close attention to what they perceive as a growing wave of authoritarianism in Nigeria.
READ ALSO: DSS invades SERAP office in Abuja, demands to see Directors
Ajaero had been scheduled to represent Nigerian workers at the Trade Union Congress (TUC) conference in the United Kingdom, where he was set to address critical issues such as workers’ rights, social justice, and economic fairness. His sudden detention has sent shockwaves through the labor movement.
Upah further stated that the NLC has alerted its affiliates, state councils, and civil society allies, vowing to continue protecting workers’ rights despite what they describe as oppressive tactics.
The Congress is currently holding a closed-door meeting to deliberate on the situation, with plans to make the outcomes public shortly.
In a tweet, the NLC expressed its outrage, stating: “The assault on Nigerian workers continues.
The President of the NLC, Comrade Joe Ajaero, was arrested and abducted by men of the DSS at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja, this morning on his way to attend an official engagement of the TUC in the United Kingdom. He is now detained at the office of the NSA.”
The NLC’s strong stance and swift action signal a potentially escalating confrontation between the government and the country’s labor movement.