Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have picked up the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero.
The union leader was arrested this morning at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
He was about to board a flight to the United Kingdom, UK, for an official assignment when DSS picked him up.
Ajaero has recently been under the watch of security agencies. On August 20, he responded to a summons from the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the Nigerian Police Force, following an earlier notice from the Police on August 19. The summons involved allegations of criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion, and cybercrime.
Despite initially explaining his inability to meet the August 19 deadline through human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN), Ajaero appeared at the Force Headquarters on August 29 with Falana and other legal representatives to address the accusations.
Briefing newsmen after appearing before the police investigators, Ajaero said the circumstances surrounding his recent questioning were part of the ongoing struggle for workers’ rights, adding that the labour movement was worth dying for.
He said: “Comrades, the labour movement is worth dying for, because of patriotism and commitment. The Labour movement is one of the biggest pan-Nigerian organisations. Our patriotism from the days of colonial masters during the period of the military is unshakable.
“We are more patriotic than any other institution you can think of in this country. We have gone there and we are back. I just want to confirm to you that as a citizen, we have gone there and we are back here. You cannot do this kind of job without this kind of hazard, it is expected.
“Even at the unit level, some of us experienced this as far back as 1998. But what is important is the circumstances that took me to that place.
“For whatever is the case, we are out to continue the struggle, we have gotten minimum wage but it has not been implemented so we have to press for its implementation as soon as possible. Every other thing that will make the welfare of the Nigerian workers to be worthwhile, we will be involved in it. We will not listen to any distraction.”
Just a day after this appearance, the Police issued another summons, calling for Ajaero and NLC General Secretary Emma Ugboaja to appear on September 5. This second summons concerned allegations of criminal intimidation, conduct likely to cause a breach of peace and malicious damage to property.
Meanwhile, Falana reacting to the development on Monday, stated that Ajaero’s arrest by operatives of the Department of State Services was not connected to the earlier invitation by the police.
Speaking in an interview in Abuja, Falana said, “The invitation to Comrade Joe Ajaero by the police was rescheduled last week. I have contacted the police authorities. The arrest is not related to the police invitation.
“Comrade Ajaero was on his way to London to attend the ongoing TUC Conference when he was arrested at the airport this morning by the SSS. No reason has been provided for the arrest by the SSS.”
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