The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has condemned the arrest of its president, Joe Ajaero.
News About Nigeria reports that the union described the arrest as a “brazen act of lawlessness and intimidation.”
The organisation has also called for Ajaero’s immediate release and has also put its affiliates, state councils, and Nigerian workers on high alert.
Recall that Ajaero was taken into custody on Monday morning at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport in Abuja.
According to Benson Upah, NLC spokesperson, Ajaero was “whisked away by DSS agents” while en route to the UK for a labour conference.
Upah added that Ajaero’s detention prevented him from representing Nigerian workers’ interests at the conference.
He described the arrest as “an unmistakable demonstration of the height of lawlessness being perpetuated by the Nigerian government and its agencies in their bid to silence every voice of dissent and opposition in the country.”
The NLC said that Ajaero’s detention lacked legal justification, adding that he was not declared wanted by any law enforcement agency.
The organisation expressed concern about Ajaero’s whereabouts and well-being, as all attempts to contact him have been unsuccessful.
“The mere contemplation of not just stopping a lawful citizen from travelling but also sequestering his freedom is an affront to our democratic and natural rights as a people and as workers.
“This is an unmistakable demonstration of the height of lawlessness being perpetuated by the Nigerian government and its agencies in their bid to silence every voice of dissent and opposition in the country as the economic policies of the government continue to afflict the people with monumental suffering and hardship.
“Such actions are not only undemocratic but immoral as well as a direct affront to the fundamental rights of citizens and organizations to lawfully express their views and carry out their activities.”
Upah urged the state to release all Nigerians jailed for participating in #EndBadGovernance protests and announced that the congress’ organs are holding a closed-door meeting.