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Fresh details have surfaced on how pressure from labour unions, civil society groups, and international organizations compelled the Nigerian government to release the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero.
Naija News reported that Ajaero was arrested on Monday by the Department of State Services (DSS) at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja while on his way to the UK to attend the Congress of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Britain.
The NLC President was slated to represent Nigerian workers in important discussions on workers’ rights and social justice.
According to NLC insiders, all arrangements for a nationwide strike were complete, pending a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting that was scheduled for Tuesday, September 10, 2024.
The NEC was expected to approve and announce the strike in response to Ajaero’s detention.
Civil society organizations (CSOs) had also threatened to escalate protests, while international trade unions pressured their governments to take action against Nigeria for alleged human rights abuses and persecution of union leaders.
Among these global unions were Public Service International (PSI), the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), and IndustriALL Global Union (IGU).
According to sources within the NLC, “all modalities for a nationwide strike had been concluded. It was only left for the National Executive Council, NEC, meeting earlier scheduled for Tuesday (10-09-2024) at 9 a.m. to endorse and declare the strike yesterday.
“All critical sector unions were already mobilised and were ready to begin a total strike yesterday until the NLC President was released unconditionally.
“Many groups, including the civil society organisations, CSOs, were already threatening fire and brim stones.
“It was equally gathered that the trade unions across the globe were already pushing their home governments to take action against Nigeria over alleged human rights abuses, and persecution of union leaders, among others.
“Among the unions are Public Service International, PSI; International Trade Union Confederation, ITUC; and IndustriALL Global Union, IGU.”
Ajaero’s Release and Ordeal
Joe Ajaero was eventually released just before the midnight deadline.
Speaking to Vanguard about his detention, Ajaero recounted his experience with the DSS and other security agencies.
Ajaero said: “It was like the DSS arrested me on behalf of the Intelligence Response Team, IRT, department of the Police.
“IRT operatives came to interrogate me and take my statement, while I was detained.
‘’The DSS also interrogated me and took my statement. I do not know why they have to embarrass me publicly like that.
“The same IRT operatives in whose office we were on August 29, 2024, alongside Mr Femi Falana, came and asked the same questions I was asked in the previous meeting with them.
“They asked about the operator of Iva Valley Bookshop on the second floor of NLC secretariat building.
“They asked me whether we had communicated on phone, whether he (the Iva Valley operator) communicated with me in writing and so on.
‘’They also asked if I know the protesters (#EndBadGovernance or #Endhunger), especially Eleojo Opaluwa, a staff of the National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE. I told them I knew him because I employed him at NUEE.
“They equally asked about the Labour Party, LP, whether we are running the party. I told them we do not run Labour Party, but that we are a trustee of the party.
“I also told them that the Labour Party they see today was founded when Adams Oshiomhole was President of NLC.
“Also, they asked about the issue of Air Peace which we had settled since last year.
“It is like the security agents are searching for evidence on how and what to nail us with. That is why they have continued to embarrass, persecute, intimidate and do whatever they liked to cow us.’’
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