The National Administrative Council, NAC of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC Friday urged the Nigerian Government to reverse the dangerous trend of authoritarianism and lawlessness, which, it says, threatens the country’s democratic fabric.
This came after an emergency meeting Friday to address the alarming and unlawful arrest and detention of Comrade Joe Ajaero, President of the NLC, by agents of the Nigerian Government.
Comrade Ajaero was arrested and detained at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja while en-route to the United Kingdom, where he was scheduled to attend and address the Congress of the Trade Union Congress, TUC of Britain, representing Nigerian workers in critical discussions on workers’ rights and social justice.
In a press release by Comrade Prince Adeyanju Adewale, Deputy President, NAC in session demanded “the immediate implementation of the New National Minimum Wage which has been signed into Law”, as ” The Nigeria Labour Congress will not waver in its duty to protect the rights of workers and the freedom of all Nigerians”.
After extensive deliberation, the NAC further resolved that it “unequivocally condemns the brazen and illegal detention of Comrade Joe Ajaero by the Nigerian State without any legal warrant or justification. The NLC notes with grave concern that Comrade Ajaero was lawfully discharging his duties to represent Nigerian workers and had not committed any offense warranting such action. His detention is an affront to the rights of workers and the democratic principles of freedom of movement and expression.
“Demands the immediate and unconditional release of Comrade Joe Ajaero before 12 midnight today. The Council reiterates that Joe Ajaero is not a fugitive or a criminal, and his detention is an act of intimidation aimed at silencing dissent and stifling the labor movement’s voice in Nigeria. NAC also demands the immediate reversal of the current hike in the price of petrol to N617/Litre”.
The Congress therefore, placed all its affiliates, State Councils, Civil society allies, and the Nigerian populace on red alert, stating, “The detention of Comrade Ajaero is an attack not just on the NLC leadership but on the rights of all workers and citizens to organize, protest, and express themselves freely. The NLC will not stand by while these rights are trampled upon. This provocation is another attempt by the state to scuttle the implementation of the new National Minimum Wage”.
The Council reaffirmed its commitment to defending the rights of Nigerian workers and citizens, warning, “The Congress will not relent in its efforts to oppose all forms of oppression. NAC – in – session therefore summons an emergency meeting of the National Executive Council, NEC by 9:00 AM tomorrow, the 10′ day of September, 2024 to take compelling action to engage the current forces of retrogression”.
