In response to the detention of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Joe Ajaero, by the Nigerian authorities while en route to the United Kingdom for an international workers’ conference, the NLC has convened a closed-door meeting to address the situation.
Benson Upah, the NLC’s Head of Public Relations, confirmed this development during an interview on Monday.
According to Upah, Ajaero was apprehended without any formal arrest warrant, and his location and health status remain unknown.
“We strongly condemn this as a brazen act of lawlessness and intimidation,” Upah stated, emphasizing the union’s outrage over the incident. The NLC has called for Ajaero’s immediate and unconditional release, describing his detention as an affront to the rule of law.
The Congress further urged the international community to take notice of what it called a rising trend of authoritarianism in Nigeria. “We are calling on global human rights organizations and advocates of democracy to closely monitor these alarming developments,” Upah said.
Ajaero had been scheduled to represent Nigerian workers at the Trade Union Congress in the UK, where he was to address key topics such as workers’ rights, social justice, and economic fairness.
Upah also remarked, “The NLC has put all its affiliates, state councils, and civil society allies on high alert, vowing to stand firm against oppressive tactics. We will not be intimidated.”
Currently, the NLC leadership is engaged in a closed-door meeting to deliberate on the issue, and a formal statement is expected soon.
Further updates will follow as details emerge.
