The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has strongly condemned the arrest and detention of its President, Joe Ajaero, by the Nigerian government.
Ajaero was detained by the Department of State Services (DSS) at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Monday, while en route to the United Kingdom to attend a Trade Union Congress meeting.
In response to Ajaero’s detention, the NLC’s National Administrative Council, led by Deputy President Adeyanju Adewale, issued a statement describing the arrest as “brazen and illegal.”
The council stated that the detention is an “affront to the rights of workers and democratic principles.” They called for the immediate and unconditional release of Ajaero, giving the government until midnight to comply.
The NLC also used the opportunity to reiterate its opposition to recent government policies, particularly the recent increase in petrol prices to N617 per litre. The council called for an immediate reversal of the price hike, emphasizing the impact on the cost of living for Nigerian workers.
The NLC has alerted all its affiliates, state councils, and civil society partners to be on standby, warning that they will not tolerate any violations of workers’ rights. The organization made it clear that it is ready to take further action if Ajaero is not released promptly.
