News Investigators/ The Department of State Services, DSS, has released Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), on administrative bail.
The released followed public pressure and demands by the NLC for the immediate and unconditional release of its leader.
Vanguard newspaper had reported the NLC president’s release, revealing that it was informed by a labour leader who said that “the Comrade President has just been released. He was released at about 11.10pm.”
The National Administrative Council of the NLC, had on Monday evening, demanded for the “unconditional release” of Mr. Ajaero before 12 midnight.
Mr. Ajaero was arrested, Monday morning at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on his way to the United Kingdom where he was billed to attend a Trade Union Congress, TUC, meeting.
He was arrested after he had ignored an invitation for questioning by the DSS. The labour leader was invited in connection with an investigation that bothers on national security.
The NLC described the arrest as “brazen and illegal” and an “affront to the rights of workers and democratic principles,” the NLC not only demanded for their President’s release before or by the 12 midnight ultimatum, they also asked for the immediate reversal of the recent hike in pump price to N617/litre.
The NLC’s National Administrative Council made the demand via a communique issued by its Deputy President, Adeyanju Adewale.
Declaring that the arrest cannot be justified by Nigeria’s laws, the NLC said it has put “all its affiliates, State Councils, Civil society allies and all patriotic Nigerians on the highest state of alert” as it “will not stand idly by while the rights of its leaders and members are trampled upon.”
“Consequently, the NLC has placed all its affiliates, state councils, and civil society allies on the red alert, warning that it will not stand by while workers’ rights are trampled upon.
The Administrative Council also summoned an emergency meeting of the National Executive Council to take further action against what it termed the administration’s “authoritarianism and lawlessness.”
The Congress reaffirmed its commitment to defending workers’ rights and opposing oppression.
The Congress also called for the implementation of the new National Minimum Wage. “The NLC demands the immediate and unconditional release of Comrade Joe Ajaero before 12 midnight today.
“The council unequivocally condemns the brazen and illegal detention of Comrade Joe Ajaero by the Nigerian state without any legal warrant or justification,” the communique reads.