Nigeria Labour Congress Demands Release of Detained President
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued a 12-hour ultimatum to the federal government to unconditionally release its president, Joe Ajaero, who was arrested and detained at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on his way to the United Kingdom.
According to a communiquĆ© issued by the NLC’s National Administrative Council (NAC), Ajaero was scheduled to attend and address the Congress of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Britain, representing Nigerian workers in critical discussions on workers’ rights and social justice. However, he was arrested and detained without any legal warrant or justification.
The NLC has condemned the detention as an affront to the rights of workers and democratic principles of freedom of movement and expression. The Congress demands Ajaero’s immediate and unconditional release before 12 midnight today, reiterating that he is not a fugitive or criminal and his detention is an act of intimidation aimed at silencing dissent and stifling the labor movement’s voice in Nigeria.
The NLC has also demanded the immediate reversal of the current hike in the price of petrol to N617/Litre. The Congress has placed all its affiliates, state councils, civil society allies, and the Nigerian populace on red alert, urging the government to reverse the dangerous trend of authoritarianism and lawlessness that threatens the country’s democratic fabric.
The NLC has reaffirmed its commitment to defending the rights of Nigerian workers and citizens, and will not relent in its efforts to oppose all forms of oppression. The Congress has summoned an emergency meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC) to take compelling action to engage the current forces of retrogression.
The NLC is demanding the immediate implementation of the New National Minimum Wage, which has been signed into law. The Congress will not waver in its duty to protect the rights of workers and the freedom of all Nigerians.
The situation has sparked widespread concern and outrage, with many calling for the government to respect the rights of workers and citizens. The international community is also watching the situation closely, with many urging the government to take immediate action to resolve the crisis.
