NLC, AI, Air Peace react as Joe Ajaero is arrested, detained by DSS

BrandPower Magazine 09/09/2024Last Updated: 09/09/2024

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NLC, AI, Air Peace react as Joe Ajaero is arrested, detained by DSS The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has demanded the immediate and unconditional release of its President, Mr Joe Ajaero.

BRANDPOWER reports that operatives of the Department of the State Services arrested the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero. He on Monday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport on his way to the UK for a TUC meeting.

The NLC president was billed to attend the Trade Union Congress conference in London, which begins today.

Confirming the development in a post via its official X handle, the NLC said Ajaero’s arrest is an assault on Nigerian workers

Mr Benson Upah, NLC Head of Information, said this in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

Upah said that Ajaero was seized and whisked away by agents of the Nigerian State while on his way to the Uk, on the invitation of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Britain.

He said that Ajaero was set to attend and address the global gathering of workers, on behalf of Nigerian workers at the TUC in the UK.

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According to him, in light of this troubling development, the congress puts all its affiliates, State Councils, Civil society allies and all patriotic Nigerians on the highest state of alert.

” The congress will not stand idly by while the rights of its leaders and members are trampled upon.

“Accordingly, we demand for the immediate and unconditional release of comrade Ajaero.

“We call on the international community, human rights organisations, and all advocates of democracy to take note of this rising wave of authoritarianism in Nigeria.

” The world must bear witness to these assaults on human dignity, civil liberties, and the rule of law.

“The NLC remains resolute in its commitment to protecting workers’ rights and will not be cowed by the oppressive tactics of the state.

“We demand the immediate and unconditional release of Ajaero and the cessation of all forms of harassment against labour leaders and the Nigerian working class, including innocent,”he said.

Upah said that the congress was yet to ascertain its president whereabouts or state of health, as all efforts made to get in touch with him had proved abortive.

” We wish to categorically state that Comrade Ajaero has been detained without any legal warrant or formal instrument.

“His detention is a brazen act of intimidation and completely unjustified under the laws of our nation.

“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,’”he said.

He said that the NLC is also demanding the release all Nigerians languishing in various prisons around the country, for exercising their democratic rights to protest in the #EndBadGovernance around the country.

“Finally, the organs of the congress are in a closed door meeting whose outcome will be made available to the public,”he said.

Recall that the Nigeria Police Force had invited and interrogated Ajaero over allegations of terrorism financing, cybercrime, subversion, criminal conspiracy, and treasonable felony.

Amnesty International Reacts

Global humanitarian organisation, Amnesty International Nigeria also condemned the onslaught against Ajaero by the police.

A statement signed by the organisation’s Director, Isa Sanusi on August 20, described the allegations of terrorism financing by the Nigerian authorities against Ajaero and its leaders as an attempt to intimidate the unionists.

The international group’s reaction comes following NLC’s threat to embark on a nationwide strike should the police detain Ajaero.

Sanusi said, “Amnesty International is deeply concerned by the Nigerian authorities’ fresh attempts to further intimidate and harass Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) through threats of arrest of its President Joe Ajaero. We urge the authorities to end this pattern of brazen impunity and respect the right of the labour unions to agree or disagree with the government and its policies.

“Under international human rights law and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, freedom of association is guaranteed, and workers cannot be targeted for participating in trade union activities. The Nigerian authorities have an obligation not only to respect the rights of workers but also to protect these rights from abuse.”

Air Peace denies being cause of arrest

Meanwhile, following reports that the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Mr Joe Ajaero, was arrested due to failure to honour police invitation over a petition by Air Peace Airlines, the airline has said the information is not true.

Vanguard reports that Air Peace has clarified that although it petitioned the NLC in 2023 following a dispute that ensued between both parties, the petition had been withdrawn.

A spokesperson for Air Peace, Omotade Makinwa, in a statement made available to Vanguard, said having resolved their differences, the airline and NLC shared a cordial relationship and anything that could break the bond should be jettisoned.

The statement reads: “Air Peace Airline expresses deep concern over recent media reports regarding the arrest of the President of the NLC in connection to a petition filed by the airline in September 2023. This development, which has led to negative publicity, does not reflect the current relationship between Air Peace and the NLC.

“It is important to clarify the events leading up to the petition. On May 3, 2023, the NLC disrupted Air Peace operations as part of a broader conflict with the Imo State government. Although Air Peace had no involvement in the dispute between the NLC and the Imo State government, our airline was unfortunately used as a tool to exert pressure on the government. This unlawful disruption of our services caused significant financial losses and impacted the travel plans of many Nigerians across multiple states.

“In response to this disruption, Air Peace’s legal team submitted a formal petition against the NLC to the Nigerian Police. Despite our repeated efforts to follow up on the petition, the Police failed to take prompt action.

“However, over a year later, the Nigerian Police have chosen to act on the original petition, which has now led to the alleged arrest of the NLC president. Before this arrest, the airline and the NLC had already reached an amicable resolution, and Air Peace had withdrawn its petition, allowing a positive working relationship to resume between the two organisations.