The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has expressed outrage over the arrest of its President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, by the Department of State Services (DSS) and has demanded his immediate release, warning that workers will completely shut down the country if their demands are not met.
According to a statement issued by the NLC’s Head of Information and Public Relations, Comrade Benson Upah, Ajaero was apprehended earlier on Monday morning by Nigerian state agents while en route to the United Kingdom to attend a global workers’ conference organized by the British Trade Union Congress.
His unexpected detention has sent shockwaves through Nigeria’s labour movement, raising concerns about the government’s increasingly authoritarian response to dissent, Comrade Upah noted.
The statement further revealed that all attempts to contact Ajaero following his detention have been unsuccessful, and his whereabouts remain unknown. The NLC expressed grave concerns about his safety and well-being, highlighting the futility of efforts to reach him.
The statement read in part: “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, invited by the British Trade Union Congress (TUC).
“Comrade Ajaero was set to attend and address a 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 take place. We have yet to ascertain his whereabouts or state of health, as all efforts to contact him have proved abortive.”
The NLC categorically stated that Ajaero had been detained without a legal warrant or formal charge. “Joe Ajaero is not a fugitive. His detention is, therefore, a blatant act of lawlessness and intimidation, as he has not been declared wanted by any law enforcement agency. His detention is unjustified under our nation’s laws. The mere act of preventing a lawful citizen from traveling and restricting his freedom is an affront to our democratic and natural rights as workers and citizens.”
The NLC also called upon the international community, human rights organizations, and advocates of democracy to pay close attention to what they described as “an increasing trend of authoritarianism” in Nigeria.
They warned that the country is witnessing a growing disregard for human dignity, civil liberties, and the rule of law—principles fundamental to any democracy.
The statement concluded by indicating that the decision-making bodies of the Congress are currently holding a private, closed-door meeting. The outcome of the meeting will be made public once discussions have concluded.
“Finally, the organs of the Congress are in a closed-door meeting, and the outcome will be shared with the public once decisions are reached.”
