Trade Union Congress, TUC, on Monday said the arrest of the
Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, President, Joe Ajaero by the Department of State
Security, DSS, has set a dangerous precedence for the labor movement in Nigeria.
Festus Osifo, the President of TUC, who said this in a
statement, also demanded the immediate release of the labour leader.
“The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has received with
grave concern the news of the arrest of the President of the Nigerian Labour
Congress (NLC) earlier today.
“This unjust action represents a clear violation of the
rights to freedom of association and expression, fundamental pillars in any
democratic society.
“Congress firmly condemns the arrest and calls for his
immediate and unconditional release. This arrest sets a dangerous precedence
that threatens not only the leadership of the Nigerian labor movement but also
the voices of millions of working-class Nigerians who rely on unions to
represent and protect their interests.
“It is imperative that the government respects the rule of
law, democratic norms, and the legitimate rights of workers and their
representatives. The labor movement has always stood for peaceful negotiations.
“We, therefore, urge the Nigerian government to prioritize
dialogue and reconciliation over harassment. We stand in solidarity with the
NLC and reaffirm our commitment to defending the rights and dignity of Nigerian
workers,” the statement read.
Recall that Ajaero was arrested at the Nnamdi Azikwe Airport
International Airport Abuja on Monday.
Consequently, NLC after an emergency meeting asked
affiliated unions to be on red alert for nationwide strikes and protests.
Ajaero’s arrest comes weeks after he was summoned by the
Nigeria Police Force for questioning over alleged terrorism financing.
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