Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has been released after his arrest by the Department of State Services (DSS) on Monday at Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport. He was detained while preparing to travel to the United Kingdom for an official engagement.
The NLC confirmed his release in a post on its official X (formerly Twitter) account early Tuesday.
In response to Ajaero’s arrest, the NLC quickly issued a statement condemning the detention, labeling it an act of intimidation aimed at stifling the labor movement. They demanded his immediate and unconditional release by 12 pm on Monday, stressing that Ajaero is neither a fugitive nor a criminal, and his arrest was unjustified.NLC President Joe Ajaero Released from DSS Detention as Labour Demands Reforms
“The struggle continues, we can’t be silenced,” read the NLC’s tweet announcing President Joe Ajaero’s release after his arrest by the Department of State Services (DSS) at Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on Monday. Ajaero was preparing to travel to the UK for the Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Britain when detained.
In a communiqué issued by the National Administrative Council (NAC) on Monday, the NLC called not only for Ajaero’s release but also for the immediate reversal of the petrol price hike to N617 per litre and the swift implementation of the newly signed national minimum wage. The NLC further demanded a reversal of the recent electricity tariff hike across the nation.
Background
Before his arrest, Ajaero had responded to a police invitation on August 28 regarding allegations of criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, and cybercrime. He was released the next day. On September 5, Ajaero and NLC Secretary General Emmanuel Ugboaja were summoned by the Deputy Inspector General of Police over charges of criminal intimidation, breach of public peace, and property damage. Accompanied by human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN), Ajaero addressed NLC members after the meeting.
The labour movement has been actively opposing recent fuel and electricity price hikes. In July 2024, after negotiations with President Bola Tinubu, a N70,000 minimum wage was agreed upon, though its implementation remains stalled. Meanwhile, NNPC Limited raised petrol prices to N855 per litre, with private stations selling at even higher rates. The NLC has criticized these price increases, insisting that the wage agreement hinged on the promise of stable fuel prices.
