Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) was released by the Department of State Services (DSS) after being arrested on Monday, September 9, 2024, at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja while en route to the UK for the World Trade Union Congress (WTUC).
Despite his release, the DSS seized his passport and handed him over to his lawyer, Abubakar Marshall of Falana and Falana Chambers, at around 11 p.m. on Monday.
The NLC confirmed Ajaero’s release via its official X (formerly Twitter) account early Tuesday morning, reiterating the ongoing struggle.
His detention drew widespread criticism, with Amnesty International and other groups calling for his immediate release.
Ajaero’s lawyer, Maxwell Opara, criticized the arrest, stating that the labour leader had informed the DSS of his planned trip and agreed to meet with them upon his return.
Opara alleged that the government is attempting to undermine Ajaero’s leadership and efforts on behalf of Nigerian workers.
He also accused the authorities of plotting to remove Ajaero from his position to install a more compliant leader.
Background
The NLC has had a tense relationship with the police in recent months.
After the end of the 10-day hunger and high cost of living protest held from 1 August to 10 August, the NLC on 8 August raised alarm saying some men of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the Department of State Services (DSS) broke into the NLC headquarters building and carted away some documents.
According to the NLC, the attack happened around 8:00 and the police didn’t give any prior notice before the visit.
The DSS denied carrying out the raid, but some days later, the police issued a statement saying that the raid was carried out by its operatives but the NLC was not the target.
“The Nigeria Police Force wishes to clarify that one prime criminal suspect for ongoing investigation was being traced to a shop inside the build at the Central Business District, Abuja,” Police spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi wrote on X.
However, days later, the NLC published an invitation letter where the police invited Joe Ajaero, the NLC president to come and answer questions on the investigation of terrorism where his name was mentioned.
Ajaero had been summoned to the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) command at Guzape, Abuja, where he was questioned in connection with allegations of terrorism financing, cybercrime, subversion, criminal conspiracy, and treasonable felony.
On Thursday, August 29, 2024, Ajaero, accompanied by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Femi Falana, Marshal Abubakar, Deji Adeyanju and a coalition of lawyers stormed the police headquarters in Abuja to honour the force invitation. He was released after about two hours of questioning.
He was re-invited to appear alongside Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja for an interview with the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Force Intelligence Department (FID) on Thursday, 5th September 2024 at 11 am but didn’t honour the invitation.
DSS arrest Ajaero on his way to UK
On Monday, September 9, 2024, the union leader was arrested around 7 am at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
The NLC president was billed to attend the Trade Union Congress conference in London, which begins Tuesday, September 10, 2024.
NLC threatens to shut down the economy
In response to its president’s arrest, the NLC held a closed-door meeting with stakeholders in Abuja on Monday, demanding Ajaero’s immediate release and instructing all chapters to prepare for a potential nationwide strike.
The NLC’s National Administrative Council in a statement issued after its meeting by Adeyanju Adewale, NLC’s deputy president, described the detention as “brazen and illegal” and an “affront to the rights of workers and democratic principles.”
The council demanded Ajaero’s release by 12 midnight on Monday and also called for the reversal of the recent petrol price hike to N617/Litre.
The NLC disclosed that it had placed its affiliates, state councils, and civil society allies on red alert, warning that it would not stand by while workers’ rights were trampled upon.
The Congress reaffirmed its commitment to defending workers’ rights and opposing oppression, urging the government to reverse its “dangerous trend” and implement the new National Minimum Wage.
The communiqué read, “The National Administrative Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress convened an emergency meeting today to address the alarming and unlawful arrest and detention of Comrade Joe Ajaero, President of the NLC, by agents of the Nigerian Government.
“Comrade Ajaero was arrested and detained at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja while en-route to the United Kingdom, where he was scheduled to attend and address the Congress of the Trade Union Congress of Britain, representing Nigerian workers in critical discussions on workers’ rights and social justice.
“After extensive deliberation, the NAC resolved as follows: The Council unequivocally condemns the brazen and illegal detention of Comrade Joe Ajaero by the Nigerian state without any legal warrant or justification. The NLC notes with grave concern that Comrade Ajaero was lawfully discharging his duties to represent Nigerian workers and had not committed any offense warranting such action.
“His detention is an affront to the rights of workers and the democratic principles of freedom of movement and expression.
“The NLC demands the immediate and unconditional release of Comrade Joe Ajaero before 12 midnight today. The Council reiterates that Joe Ajaero is not a fugitive or a criminal, and his detention is an act of intimidation aimed at silencing dissent and stifling the labour movement’s voice in Nigeria. NAC also demands the immediate reversal of the current hike in the price of petrol to N617/litre.
“The congress places all its affiliates, state councils, civil society allies, and the Nigerian populace on red alert. The detention of Comrade Ajaero is an attack not just on the NLC leadership but on the rights of all workers and citizens to organize, protest, and express themselves freely. The NLC will not stand by while these rights are trampled upon. This provocation is another attempt by the State to scuttle the implementation of the new National Minimum Wage.”
Oppositions, others knock government
Reacting to the development, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, called for caution, stating that Nigeria has now entered a full-blown dictatorship under President Tinubu.
Ologunagba urged the Federal Government to tackle the underlying issues like hunger, rather than targeting individuals who didn’t support their policies.
He stated, “There is a need for caution. There was a protest in this country, and the government did nothing. You arrest some people, label them terrorists, and charge them to court. You claim some individuals are sponsors of the protest.
“We know who sponsored the protest: it is hunger. The President and his administration should address hunger, and there will be no problem. Let your draconian policies that bring people to their knees be re-evaluated. With school resuming, we understand the struggles of those with pupils in school.
“You wake up one morning unable to plan because the government is so insensitive and irresponsible, implementing policies that destroy people’s plans and their pursuit of happiness without consulting the National Assembly.
“Why does the government exist? For the welfare and security of the people. Currently, there is no welfare or security. This is breaking news. We need to see and understand what is happening. The government should address the country’s welfare challenges to prevent protests.”
The PDP Publicity Secretary expressed discontent with President Tinubu for focusing primarily on his comfort.
Ologunagba added, “Nobody really cares who the president is if the government provides the opportunity to pursue our goals and aspirations. As a party, we will investigate this breaking news and respond accordingly. If the government is about welfare and the people are suffering, it is reasonable to review these policies.
“You must show leadership by saying, ‘Okay, you are telling me to tighten my belt while you are buying a new belt.’ This is a country that cannot pay N70,000 minimum wage but can purchase a N150 billion plane. The President seems to be testing it, flying everywhere. This is a country where N21bn was spent to renovate the Vice President’s house, yet according to them, there is no money.”
The PDP Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Ibrahim Abdullahi, remarked that Tinubu’s administration was sliding into ”a hotbed of corruption and tyranny.”
He stated, “Tinubu’s administration is not sliding into authoritarianism, we are already in a full-blown dictatorship.
“The APC and indeed the Tinubu-led government have finally degenerated into a cesspool of corrupt and tyrannical monsters. The contraption is no longer pretentious about its anti-democratic posture, a development we are not surprised about because of the background and disposition of the elements.”
The National Publicity Secretary of New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Ladipo Johnson, described Ajaero’s arrest as shocking.
Johnson, however, disclosed that the Tinubu administration must urgently explain why the Labour leader was whisked away to douse the tension.
The Trades Union Congress (TUC) of the United Kingdom has similarly condemned the arrest and persecution of Ajaero.
Speaking at the event that Ajaero was meant to attend, a UK TUC leader stated: “Joe was released last night, but it is clear that his ordeal is not yet over. His unlawful arrest is a gross violation of fundamental trade union freedoms, especially as he was on his way to speak to us about the vital right of trade unions to seek solidarity.”
He emphasised continued support for Nigerian unions, adding, “Nigeria’s trade unions still have our solidarity. We condemn the actions of the Nigerian government and demand that they cease their persecution of Joe Ajaero.”
Ajaero’s detention prevented him from attending a scheduled International Trade Union Congress meeting in the UK. Speculations suggest his arrest may be connected to his refusal to respond to summons from undercover police or a petition filed against him by an airline operator.
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