Arrest and Release of NLC President Sparks Nationwide Outrage

The President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, was arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) on Monday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja while en route to a trade union conference in the UK. His detention triggered widespread condemnation from various labour groups, political parties, and civil rights organizations.

Ajaero’s arrest followed his recent involvement in labour protests and clashes with the government over the rise in petrol prices. The DSS reportedly held him without specifying any charges, a move that led to calls for his immediate release from labour unions and human rights organizations across Nigeria. His release, which occurred late Monday, came after hours of national outrage.

Femi Falana, legal counsel to Ajaero, stated that the arrest was unrelated to a previous police invitation, while the NLC denied claims that Ajaero had been apprehended for disregarding any security summons. Air Peace, a Nigerian airline initially linked to a petition against Ajaero, also clarified that it had withdrawn its complaint long before the arrest.

Labour groups, including the Trade Union Congress (TUC), the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), and the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), have demanded explanations and threatened further actions should such incidents recur. The NLC has placed its affiliates on alert, condemning the arrest as a direct attack on workers’ rights.

Meanwhile, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) reported a siege on its Abuja office by the DSS following its calls for a reversal of fuel price hikes.