The Department of State Services (DSS) has released Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), following a brief detention that sparked significant backlash from labour unions.
Ajaero, who was detained on September 9, 2024, at Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport while on his way to a Trade Union Congress (TUC) meeting in the UK, was released on bail the following day after 11:00 p.m.
According to the Nigerian Tribune, Ajaero’s release came after the NLC threatened to initiate nationwide protests. The union had set a deadline of midnight on September 10, 2024, warning of potential industrial action if Ajaero was not released.
NLC spokesperson Benson Upah issued a strong condemnation of the arrest, stating, “The congress will not stand idly by while the rights of its leaders and members are trampled upon. Accordingly, we demand the immediate and unconditional release of Comrade Ajaero.”
Despite the release, the DSS has not provided a formal explanation for Ajaero’s detention, and the reasons behind it remain unclear. Sources within the agency suggested that Ajaero may have been aware of the reasons for his arrest.
The incident highlights the ongoing tensions between the labour movement and government authorities, as unions prepare to respond to what they view as violations of their leaders’ rights.