The Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) on Tuesday condemned the arrest of the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, by the Department of State Services (DSS) at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

It also expressed worry over the DSS siege to the Abuja office of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).

ANEEJ Executive Director, Rev David Ugolor, in a statement made available to newsmen in Benin, called for the immediate release of the NLC president and the vacation of SERAP’s office, noting that the action of the government was sending the wrong signals to the international community about the present government’s muzzling of the civic space in Nigeria.

“Labour and SERAP’s leaders are being persecuted because they called on the government to reverse the pump price of petrol that has afflicted energy poverty on over 160 million Nigerians. We call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately and unconditionally release Mr. Ajaero and all civil society leaders in their detention.

“We at ANEEJ also condemn the increase in the pump price of petrol because Nigerians are facing untold hardship at the moment, and arresting Labour and Civil Society leaders who speak against the government’s harsh economic policies is unacceptable in a democracy,” Ugolor said.

Ugolor said that the federal government should understand the implications of its actions. It is making Nigeria a laughing stock among the comity of nations to arrest Labour leaders and civil rights activists as the government’s actions run contrary to the United Charter on human and people’s rights and a violation of freedom of expression as guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution as Amended.

ANEEJ stated that “Nigerians are suffering from the unabating increase in the pump price of petrol, which has pushed many citizens to their early graves and left many others unable to access basic medical care, food, and basic education. Civil Society Leaders cannot fold our hands and watch fellow Nigerians die of hunger and starvation while government officials cruise in posh aircraft and cars,” Ugolor added.

It would be recalled that the DSS reportedly arrested Ajaero on Monday morning at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on his way to the United Kingdom for an official assignment. The NLC president was billed to attend the Trade Union Congress conference in London, which begins today.

Also, operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) were reported to have laid siege to the office of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) following a 48-hour deadline given to President Bola Tinubu to reverse the recent hike in the pump price of premium motor spirit (PMS), otherwise known as petrol.