Ajaero’s Arrest Saga: How NLC Won Round One

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) may have won Round One of the Joe Ajaero’s Arrest Saga,

Ajaero is the National President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC)  arrested by security operatives while on his way to an international conference.

The labour union won the round following pressures via strike threats at the Federal Government as well as public goodwill, which forced the government to back down on its continued detention of Ajaero, making it release the unionist a few minutes before midnight.

The government though the Directorate of State Services (DSS) thus acceded to labour’s threat that its leader be released failing which the government should expect an all-out-workers’ strike.

Read The Eagle’s report that local and international pressure would also help to force Ajaero’s release HERE.

The Eagle’s submission was based on amongst others, the fact that Ajaero was arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on his way to the United Kingdom for an official assignment.

He had been invited to the Trade Union Congress conference in London, and that had automatically made his travail a subject of international attention.

READ ALSO: Why We’re Commencing Indefinite Nationwide Strike

This is coupled with widespread complaints of economic hardship in the country.

The Department of State Services granted the NLC president administrative bail a little before midnight and this gives both parties time to re-strategise.

“BREAKING: The fascist regime of @officialABAT has released the @NLCHeadquarters President Joe Ajaero from @OfficialDSSNG custody on bail,”, was how Pro-democracy activist and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, announced his release on X yesterday.

The labour union was said to be holding closed door meetings, exploring the next move forward, should the federal government refuse to accede to its request on the Ajaero’s Arrest Saga.

Apparently, the federal government had evaluated the implication of a continued detention of the labour leader and decided to back down.

It was not just the NLC but its affiliate unions that were on standby.

For example, the National Union of Electricity Employees had also lined behind organised labour demanding a release of Ajaero.

READ ALSO: The World Must Bear Witness To These: Full Text Of NLC’s Statement On Ajaero’s Arreest

The Acting General Secretary, Igwebike Dominic, in a statement had said: “We are demanding the immediate and unconditional release of Com. 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.”