Release Ajaero before midnight or face dire consequences, NLC threatens Nigerian government

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has set a deadline of Monday midnight for the Federal Government to release its President, Joe Ajaero, or face dire consequences.

The NLC has scheduled an emergency meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC) for Tuesday at 9 a.m. to determine an appropriate response if Ajaero is not released.

In a communique issued after an emergency meeting of the National Administrative Council (NAC), signed by the NLC Vice President, Prince Adewale Adeyanju, the NLC condemned the arrest and detention of Ajaero. The communique stated, “The National Administrative Council (NAC) of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) held an emergency meeting today to discuss the alarming and unlawful arrest and detention of Comrade Joe Ajaero, President of the NLC, by agents of the Nigerian Government.”

According to the NLC, Ajaero was detained at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja while travelling to the UK to attend and address the UK Trade Union Congress (TUC) on issues related to workers’ rights and social justice.

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The communique continued, “After much deliberation, the NAC resolves as follows: The Council unequivocally condemns the shameless and illegal detention of Comrade Joe Ajaero by the Nigerian State without any warrant or legal justification.”

The NLC expressed concern over Ajaero’s detention, saying, “Comrade Ajaero was lawfully carrying out his duties to represent Nigerian workers and did not commit any offence that warranted such action. His detention is an affront to workers’ rights and the democratic principles of freedom of movement and expression.”

The NLC demanded Ajaero’s immediate and unconditional release before midnight, stressing, “The council reiterates that Joe Ajaero is neither a fugitive nor a criminal, and that his detention is an act of intimidation aimed at stifling dissent and stifling the voice of the labour movement in Nigeria. The NAC also demands the immediate reversal of the current increase in the price of petrol to N617/litre.”

The NLC has placed all affiliates, state councils, civil society allies and the general public on high alert, stating, “The arrest of Comrade Ajaero is an attack not only on the leadership of the NLC but also on the rights of all workers and citizens to organise, demonstrate and express themselves freely.”

The communique concluded with a call to action, “The NLC will not stand idly by while these rights are trampled upon. This provocation is yet another attempt by the State to frustrate the implementation of the new National Minimum Wage.”

The NAC has called an emergency NEC meeting at 9:00 am on September 10, 2024 to discuss the situation. The NLC urged the Nigerian Government to halt the “dangerous trend of authoritarianism and lawlessness,” and demanded the immediate implementation of the New National Minimum Wage, reaffirming its commitment to defending workers’ rights and democratic freedoms.

Release Ajaero before midnight or face dire consequences, NLC threatens Nigerian government first appeared on Latest Nigeria News | Headlines from Ripples Nigeria.