Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
The detained National President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Joe Ajaero, has been released by the Department of State Services, DSS, which quizzed him earlier on Monday morning at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on his way to London.
Ajaero who was granted administrative bail regained his freedom around 11:10pm.
NLC had given the Federal Government 12:00am ultimatum for Ajaero’s unconditional release.
His release was announced by pro-democracy activist and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, in a post on his X handle.
Sowore wrote:“BREAKING: The fascist regime of @officialABAT has released the @NLCHeadquarters President Joe Ajaero from @OfficialDSSNG custody on bail,” he wrote on X.com.
The NLC had during the emergency meeting of its National Administrative Council, NAC, placed all its affiliate unions on red alert over a possible shutdown of the country.
Numerous other organisations including Amnesty International, civil society groups, activists and prominent individuals, had equally criticised the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Federal Government over the illegal arrest of Ajaero which they described as an attempt to silence dissenting views.
NLC in a statement by its Deputy President, Adeyanju Adewale, described Ajaero’s detention as “brazen and illegal” and a clear violation of workers’ rights and democratic values.
Recall that the Organised Labour had previously warned that it would embark on indefinite strike by the 12:00 midnight of any day Ajaero was arrested by security operatives.
