Release Ajaero before midnight, NLC tells DSS

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has demanded the immediate and unconditional release of its President, Joe Ajaero before midnight.

The National Administrative Council (NAC) of the NLC made the demand in a communiqué following an emergency meeting in Abuja on Monday.

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

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

The spokesman of NLC, Benson Upah, meanwhile in an earlier statement had demanded the release of Ajaero following his arrest by the Department of State for Security (DSS) on Monday morning.

“This morning, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, was seized and whisked away by agents of the Nigerian State while on his way to the United Kingdom on the invitation of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Britain,” Upah said.

“Comrade Ajaero was set to attend and address the global gathering of workers on behalf of Nigerian workers at the Congress of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in the UK, a platform where critical discussions on workers’ rights, social justice and economic fairness are discussed.

“We wish to categorically state that Comrade Ajaero has been detained without any legal warrant or formal instrument. Joe Ajaero is not a fugitive.

“His detention is therefore a brazen act of lawlessness and intimidation as he has not been declared wanted by any law enforcement body. His detention is a brazen act of intimidation and completely unjustified under the laws of our nation.

“The mere contemplation of not just stopping a lawful citizen from travelling but also sequestering his freedom is an affront to our democratic and natural rights as a people and as workers.

“The Congress will not stand idly by while the rights of its leaders and members are trampled upon. Accordingly, we demand for the immediate and unconditional release of comrade Ajaero.”

Upah had earlier confirmed Ajaero’s arrest in an interview with Channels Television. He said the DSS operatives arrested Ajaero at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Aiport in Abuja.