…DSS Storms SERAP’s Office The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Amnesty International (AI) on Monday demanded the immediate and unconditional release of NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero by the Department of State Services (DSS). The NLC, in a statement by its spokesperson, Comrade Benson Upah, said Congress: “will not stand idly by while the rights
…DSS Storms SERAP’s Office
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Amnesty International (AI) on Monday demanded the immediate and unconditional release of NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero by the Department of State Services (DSS).
The NLC, in a statement by its spokesperson, Comrade Benson Upah, said Congress: “will not stand idly by while the rights of its leaders and members are trampled upon.” According to him, agents of the Nigerian State seized Ajaero without a legal warrant or formal instrument, and his whereabouts and health status are currently unknown.
The NLC condemned the detention as a “brazen act of lawlessness and intimidation” and demanded Ajaero’s immediate and unconditional release. The Congress has also called on the international community, human rights organizations, and democracy advocates to take note of the rising wave of authoritarianism in Nigeria.
According to Comrade Upah, the NLC President was set to address the Trade Union Congress in the UK on behalf of Nigerian workers, discussing critical issues like workers’ rights, social justice, and economic fairness.
“The NLC has put its affiliates, state councils, and civil society allies on high alert and vowed to protect workers’ rights and not be cowed by oppressive tactics. The Congress is currently holding a closed-door meeting to discuss the situation, and the outcome will be made public soon.”
Also on Monday, Amnesty International in a statement issued by Mr Isa Sanusi, head of Amnesty International in Nigeria, said it: “strongly condemns the unlawful arrest of the President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Joe Ajaero by the Department of State Services (DSS) today. The labour union leader must be immediately and unconditionally released.”
According to the AI, the labour leader was arrested at the Abuja airport while trying to board a flight to the UK for a Trade Union Congress gathering. “The arbitrary arrest of Comrade Joe Ajaero shows an escalating crackdown on human rights and restrictions on civic space by the government of President Bola Tinubu.”
“President Bola Tinubu’s government persistently attacks and undermines the operations of the NLC, through fabricated allegations, raids on NLC headquarters and other forms of harassment and intimidation. This growing culture of impunity and disdain for workers’ rights to organize and seek better welfare must stop.
“President Tinubu is setting a new record of utter disregard for the rule of law,” Mr. Sanusi stressed.
Comrade Ajaero’s arrest comes about a week after he honoured an invitation by the police on 28 August 2024 but was released after honouring the invitation.
Comrade Ajaero’s arrest by DSS was allegedly connected to his failure to honour an invitation over a petition by Air Peace Airlines.
Also, the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), which handles Nigeria’s security issues involving foreigners, invited Comrade Ajaero over the case of Mr Andrew Wynne, a Briton accused of sponsoring terrorism in Nigeria — an allegation Wynne denied. Comrade Ajaero also shunned the invitation.
DSS Personnel Storm SERAP’s Office
Hours after the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Comrade Joe Ajaero was arrested in Abuja by security operatives, another set of agents on Monday stormed the office of a prominent civil society group, The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) in Abuja.
According to SERAP, the officers were “unlawfully occupying SERAP’s office in Abuja, asking to see our directors,” the civic group wrote on X.
“President Tinubu must immediately direct the SSS to end the harassment, intimidation and attack on the rights of Nigerians,” SERAP wrote.
Neither the police nor the DSS have spoken on the matter.
The Nigerian government has been accused of clamping down on civic space through the arrest and intimidation of activists, journalists and civil society personnel.
