Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS) on Monday arrested the President of Nigeria Labour Congress ( NLC), Mr. Joe Ajaero, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, where he was about to board a flight to the United Kingdom, UK, for an official assignment.
Ajaero, who is a former General-Secretary of Nigeria Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) was on his way to attend the conference of the Trade Union Congress, TUC, UK, holding today.
It is not clear why he was arrested.
However, new development suggests that Ajaero was arrested for his failure to honour invitation by extended to him by the DSS.
His arrest has triggered anger among Nigeria Union of Electricity Employees(NUEE) and Nigeria Labour Congress.
In a statement issued by Acting General-Secretary of NUEE, Igwebike Dominic, the union demanded immediate and unconditional release without harm.
“We are perplexed with the information that Joe Ajaero who is the General Secretary of National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) and President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) was 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.
“Joe Ajaero has been detained and treated like a fugitive that he is not without access to his lawyers, families and colleagues. This brazen act of intimidation and harassment is a violation of his fundamental rights and freedom as a Nigerian citizen.
“We are demanding the immediate and unconditional release of Joe Ajaero and we are saying to the government to desist from its unscrupulous harassment of labour leaders and Nigerian workers who speak out on the crushing hardship they are battling with caused by the irresponsible acts of the government that has turned deaf ears to the groaning of the people that they are governing.
“The last we know, Nigeria is still a democratic nation, so why is the government witch-hunting and trying to silence those that speak out to protest their deplorable state of living and economic hardship?
“Joe Ajaero represents the Nigerian workers and the common man on the street. This act of the government signifies trampling on masses and is tantamount to beating a child and preventing the child from crying. An injury to Joe Ajaero is an injury to all Nigerian workers and Electricity employees in particular.
“Nigeria is our collective country, our leaders should not make us live like slaves that cannot express themselves in our country. We demand unequivocal and unconditional release of Com. Joe Ajaero without any harm meted to him. We are using this medium to put all our members on alert for further directives.”
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com