Following intense public and labour union pressure, Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), was released from Department of State Services (DSS) custody on September 10, 2024. His arrest earlier that day at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja sparked widespread backlash from labour leaders and activists, with the NLC threatening a nationwide strike if he was not freed by midnight.
Ajaero, who was en route to the Trade Union Congress conference in the UK, was detained under unclear circumstances. The arrest ignited immediate outrage from the labour movement, accusing the government of attempting to intimidate and silence labour. leadership. The NLC’s National Administrative Council swiftly convened an emergency meeting, condemning the arrest as a violation of democratic principles and workers’ rights.
“This action is a direct attack on the rights of Nigerian workers to organise and protest peacefully,” the NLC stated. “The government’s brazen disregard for these rights will not go unanswered.”
Labour activist Omoyele Sowore confirmed Ajaero’s release on social media, denouncing the government’s heavy-handed tactics. Sowore tweeted, “The NLC President has been freed, but this is another reminder of the oppressive measures being employed against civil liberties in Nigeria.”
Political figures from opposition parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), also criticised the arrest. They expressed concerns over the Tinubu administration’s treatment of labour unions, calling for a more cooperative approach to resolving the ongoing fuel price hike protests.
As the NLC continues to resist policies such as the recent petrol price increase, Ajaero’s release has renewed focus on the growing tensions between Nigerian labour unions and the government. The NLC is poised for further action if workers’ rights are threatened, and the incident serves as a critical juncture in the ongoing struggle for labour representation in Nigeria.
This release is seen by many as a temporary reprieve, and the NLC has vowed to remain vigilant, with plans to mobilise if necessary in the coming weeks. The labour union’s leadership, under Ajaero, continues to be a central figure in the fight for economic and social justice for Nigerian workers.
By Joseph Johnston
Youth Editor,
Egogonews Hub
