• As Ajaero, Ugboaja face police probe on September 30

The Nigeria Labour Congress has demanded the immediate and unconditional release of its President, Joe Ajaero who was reportedly arrested by the Department of State Services on Monday.

Another report has it that he was arrested by the office of the National Security Adviser, while the government has maintained a sealed lips over the arrest.

The Union condemned the arrest describing it as brazen and illegal.

Ajaero was arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja while on his way to the United Kingdom to attend a Trade Union Congress meeting.

The NLC’s National Administrative Council in a communique by the congress’ Deputy President, Adeyanju Adewale, on Monday evening also described the detention as an “affront to the rights of workers and democratic principles.”

The council demanded Ajaero’s release by 12 midnight and also called for the reversal of the recent petrol price hike to N617/litre.

The NLC has also placed 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 council has also summoned an emergency meeting of the National Executive Council to take further action against the government’s “authoritarianism and lawlessness.”

The NLC has reaffirmed its commitment to defending workers’ rights and opposing oppression, urging the government to reverse its “dangerous trend” and implement the new National Minimum Wage.

The communique read, “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.”

Meanwhile, Ajaero; and the Secretary General of NLC, Emmanuel Ugboaja will be questioned by the Nigeria Police Force on September 30, 2024.

They will be grilled over petitions written against the NLC.

Human rights lawyer and counsel for the NLC, Femi Falana, SAN, has clarified that Ajaero and Ugboaja were not re-invited by the police as regards terrorism financing as reported by some media outlets.

Falana had clarified that the duo were invited due to petitions written against them by Airpeace.

Airpeace had accused them of “public disruption” but the airline, on Monday, noted that it had settled amicably with the leadership of the NLC.

 “Airpeace itself noted that it has withdrawn the petition. So, why does the police still want to quiz them on September 30? Yes, they have agreed to the September 30 extension,” Falana said.

Ajaero and Ugboaja, through their lawyer, Falana, had demanded an extended timeline for the invite extended to them by the police.