- Upah stated that Ajaero’s detention thwarted his plans to represent Nigerian workers’ interests at the conference.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has vehemently condemned the detention of its president, Joe Ajaero, as a “brazen act of lawlessness and intimidation.”
The NLC is urging for Ajaero’s immediate release and has alerted its affiliates, state councils, and Nigerian workers to be vigilant.
Ajaero was taken into custody on Monday morning at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport in Abuja.
Benson Upah, NLC spokesperson, revealed that Ajaero was “whisked away by DSS agents” while en route to the UK for a labor conference.
Upah stated that Ajaero’s detention thwarted his plans to represent Nigerian workers’ interests at the conference.
He described the arrest as “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”.
The NLC emphasized that Ajaero’s detention lacked legal justification, adding that “We wish to categorically state that Comrade Ajaero has been detained without any legal warrant or formal instrument. Joe Ajaero is not a fugitive.”
The organization expressed concern about Ajaero’s whereabouts and well-being, as all attempts to contact him have been unsuccessful.
The NLC views Ajaero’s detention as an attack on democratic and natural rights, stating “His detention is a brazen act of lawlessness and intimidation, completely unjustified under the laws of our nation, as he has not been declared wanted by any law enforcement body.”
The organization condemned the government’s actions as undemocratic and immoral, adding “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 NLC called on the international community to take note of Nigeria’s rising authoritarianism, stating “Furthermore, we call on the international community, human rights organizations, and all advocates of democracy to take note of this rising wave of authoritarianism in Nigeria.”
The organization remains committed to protecting workers’ rights and will not be intimidated by the state’s oppressive tactics, adding “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.”