The Department of State Services (DSS) has returned the passport of Joe Ajaero, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), following his arrest on Monday, September 9, 2024, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport in Abuja. The DSS released Ajaero hours after his detention, although the reasons for his arrest remain undisclosed, with the agency staying silent on the matter.
According to reports from Daily Trust, the DSS did not find anything incriminating against Ajaero, leaving the motives behind his detention unclear. His release came after the NLC threatened to mobilize nationwide protests, setting a deadline for midnight on Tuesday, September 10, and warning of potential industrial action if Ajaero remained in custody.
In a forceful statement, NLC spokesperson Benson Upah condemned 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.”
Tensions quickly escalated as the NLC alerted its affiliate unions, preparing for a national showdown with the federal government. This situation underscores the ongoing friction between the labour movement and government authorities as workers’ unions react to perceived infringements on their leaders’ rights.
In a related development, Air Peace has distanced itself from Ajaero’s arrest. The airline’s spokesperson, Omotade Makinwa, clarified that despite submitting a petition in May 2023 following an NLC-led disruption of the airline’s operations during a conflict with the Imo State Government, the petition was not acted upon by the police. Makinwa expressed concern that the media reports linking Air Peace to Ajaero’s arrest had generated negative publicity for the airline.