The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has demanded the immediate and unconditional release of its president, Joe Ajaero, who was arrested by security agents on Monday.
According to a statement signed by the NLC’s Head of Information and Public Affairs, Benson Upah, the union has put all its affiliates, state councils, civil society allies and all patriotic Nigerians on the highest state of alert in the light of “this troubling development.”
TheFact Daily had reported that Ajaero was arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on his way to the United Kingdom on the invitation of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Britain.
The statement said that Ajaero has been detained and his whereabouts or his state of health are yet to be ascertained as all efforts made to get in touch with him have proved abortive.
The union maintained that Joe Ajaero is not a fugitive, theefore his detention is “a brazen act of lawlessness and intimidation as he has not been declared wanted by any law enforcement body”.
It further posited that the detention of the NLC president “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”, adding 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 Congress said it will not stand idly by while the rights of its leaders and members are trampled upon, and accordingly, demanded the immediate and unconditional release of its president.
It maintained it remains resolute in its commitment to protecting workers’ rights and will not be cowed by the oppressive tactics of the state.
It also disclosed that the organs of the Congress are in a closed door meeting whose outcome will be made available to the public.
