The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), whose president Joe Ajaero was detained while travelling to the UK, has confirmed the incident.
Ajaero is scheduled to speak to employees on behalf of the Congress of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in the UK, according to a statement released on Monday by Benson Upah, Head of Information and Public Affairs at the NLC.
He said: “This morning, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, was seized and whisked away by agents of the Nigerian State while on his way to the United Kingdom on the invitation of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Britain.
“Ajaero was set to attend and address the global gathering of workers on behalf of Nigerian workers at the Congress of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in the UK, a platform where critical discussions on workers’ rights, social justice, and economic fairness are discussed. We are yet to ascertain his whereabouts or his state of health as all efforts we have made to get in touch with him have proved abortive.”
NLC disclosed that Ajaero is detained without any legal warrant or formal instrument, noting that the NLC president’s detention was “unjustified” and a “brazen act of lawlessness.”
The statement added, ‘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.”
The action is a clear example of the extreme lawlessness being maintained by the Nigerian government and its agencies in their attempt to silence any voice of dissent or opposition in the nation as the government’s economic policies continue to cause the people immense suffering and hardship, according to the Nigerian Central Labour Body.
The NLC declared that the labour movement and its supporters are in a condition of high alert as a result of the circumstances.
“The Congress puts all its affiliates, State Councils, Civil society allies, and all patriotic Nigerians on the highest state of alert” reads the statement. The Congress will not remain silent when its members’ and leaders’ rights are violated. Consequently, we demand that our comrade Joe Ajaero be released immediately and without conditions.
NLC called on the international community, human rights organisations, and all advocates of democracy to take note of this rising wave of authoritarianism in Nigeria.
It added: “The NLC remains resolute in its commitment to protecting workers’ rights and will not be cowed by the oppressive tactics of the state. 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.”
It also disclosed organs of the Congress are in a closed door meeting whose outcome will be made available to the public.
