Ajaero’s Arrest: Brazen Act Of Intimidation, Unjustified – NLC

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has described the arrest and detention of its President, Comrade Joe Ajaero by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Federal Government, as a brazen act of intimidation that is completely unjustified under the laws of the nation.

It also said that 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 stressed that the arrest and detention of Ajaro, is an unmistakable demonstration of the height of lawlessness being perpetuated by the Nigerian government and its agencies in their bid to silence every voice of dissent and opposition in the country as the economic policies of the government continues to afflict the people with monumental suffering and hardship.

This was as the NLC called on the international community, human rights organizations, and all advocates of democracy to take note of what it described as the rising wave of authoritarianism in Nigeria.

The umbrella organization of trade Unions said that comrade Ajaero is not a fugitive, stressing that his detention is therefore a brazen act of lawlessness and intimidation as he has not been declared wanted by any law enforcement body.

The NLC said that they are yet to ascertain Ajaero’s whereabouts or his state of health as all efforts made to get in touch with him have proved abortive.

These were contained in a statement by Comrade Benson Upah, head of Information and Public Affairs of the NLC in which he said such actions are not only undemocratic but immoral as well as a direct affront to the fundamental rights of citizens and organizations to lawfully express their views and carry out their activities.

The statement said; “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.

“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.

Accordingly, the NLC said that in light of this troubling development, all of its affiliates, State Councils, Civil society allies and all patriotic Nigerians are put on the highest state of alert, stressing that it will not stand idly by while the rights of its leaders and members are trampled upon.

The statement further said; “We demand for the immediate and unconditional release of comrade Joe Ajaero.

“The world must bear witness to these assaults on human dignity, civil liberties, and the rule of law.

“The NLC remains resolute in its commitment to protecting workers’ rights and will not be cowed by the oppressive tactics of the state. Once again, we demand the immediate and unconditional release of Comrade Joe Ajaero and the cessation of all forms of harassment against labour leaders and the Nigerian working class including innocent citizens who hold dissenting opinions.

“We equally demand that the state frees all Nigerians languishing in various prisons around the country for exercising their democratic rights to protest in the #EndBadGovernance rallies around the country.

The statement said that the Organs of the Congress are in a closed door meeting whose outcome will be made available to the public.