The leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has initiated a closed-door meeting following the arrest and detention of its President, Joe Ajaero, by security agents.
NLC’s Head of Public Relations, Benson Upah, announced this in a statement on Monday, noting that the results of the meeting will be communicated to the public once it concludes.
Upah stated that Ajaero was seized by Nigerian state agents without a legal warrant or formal documentation, and his current location and health status remain unknown.
He also mentioned that Ajaero was scheduled to attend and speak at the global gathering of workers on behalf of Nigerian workers at the Congress of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in the UK before his arrest.
Upah condemned Ajaero’s detention, saying that it is “a brazen act of lawlessness and intimidation as he has not been declared wanted by any law enforcement body.”
“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 continues 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.”
The NLC spokesperson stated that the union has alerted all its affiliates, State Councils, civil society allies, and concerned Nigerians to be on high alert in response to this “troubling development.”
He also called for the immediate and unconditional release of Ajaero.