By The New Diplomat Political Desk
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued a strong warning to the Department of State Services (DSS), demanding the immediate and unconditional release of its National President, Comrade Joe Ajaero.
The union, which placed all its affiliates on alert, declared that it would not sit and watch its president go through what it described as maltreatment.
The New Diplomat reports 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.
Reacting to the development. the NLC Head of Information and Public Affairs, Benson Upah, in a statement issued on Monday, accused the DSS of arresting and detaining Ajaero unlawfully.
Upah stated that the NLC boss was arrested without any legal warrant.
According to him, Ajaero has been detained and his whereabouts or his state of health are yet to be ascertained.
The statement reads in part: “We wish to categorically state that Comrade Ajaero has been detained without any legal warrant or formal instrument. Joe Ajaero is not a fugitive. His detention is, therefore, a brazen act of lawlessness and intimidation, as he has not been declared wanted by any law enforcement body.
“His detention is a brazen act of intimidation and completely unjustified under the laws of our nation. 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.
“This 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 continue to afflict the people with monumental suffering and hardship.
“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.
“In light of this troubling development, the Congress puts all its affiliates, State Councils, Civil society allies and all patriotic Nigerians on the highest state of alert. The Congress will not stand idly by while the rights of its leaders and members are trampled upon. Accordingly, we demand the immediate and unconditional release of comrade Joe Ajaero.
“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 world must bear witness to these assaults on human dignity, civil liberties, and the rule of law,” the NLC statement read in part.
The union said it remains resolute in its commitment to protecting workers’ rights and will not be cowed by the oppressive tactics of the state.
The Union noted further:” 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.
“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.”
