By Uche Onyeali
Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, has placed all workers and affiliated unions on red alert over the arrest of its President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, by the Department of State Services, DSS.
Operatives of the secret police yesterday arrested Ajaero at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, while boarding a flight to the United Kingdom, UK, for an official assignment.
In a post on its official X handle, NLC demanded immediate and unconditional release of the labour leader.
“We demand the immediate and unconditional release of Congress President, Comrade Joe Ajaero.
“All affiliate unions, state councils, civil society allies and all patriotic Nigerians should be on red alert,” the union wrote.
AljazirahNigeria recalls that Ajaero was recently invited by the Nigeria Police Force for questioning on allegations bordering on terrorism financing and other related offences, which generated controversy with the NLC and other labour unions.
Organised labour had accused the federal government of attempting to intimidate labour leaders, vowing to shut down the economy if the NLC president is arrested.
Ajaero reported at the Force Headquarters in Abuja on Thursday, accompanied by human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), Maxwell Opera and lawyers.
However, he returned to the Labour House after writing his statement at the headquarters of the Intelligence Response Team at about 11:15am.
The NLC leader did not speak to journalists at the IRT headquarters, but promised to speak at the labour headquarters.
Meanwhile, NLC yesterday convened a closed-door meeting, following Ajaero’s arrest.
The congress, in a statement by its spokesman, Benson Upah, said: “NLC remains resolute in its commitment to protect 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 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.
“Finally, organs of the Congress are in a closed-door meeting whose outcome will be made available to the public.”
