Breaking: NLC Issues Midnight Ultimatum to Federal Government Over Ajaero’s Arrest, Threatens Nationwide Action
By Wisdom Tide
09/09/2024
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued a stern ultimatum to the Federal Government, demanding the immediate release of its President, Joe Ajaero, by midnight today. Failure to comply, the NLC warns, will lead to serious consequences, including nationwide industrial action.
Ajaero's Arrest Sparks Outrage
Ajaero was reportedly arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja while on his way to the United Kingdom for an official engagement. His sudden detention by government agents has sent shockwaves through the labor community, intensifying tensions between Nigerian workers and the government.
In reaction, the NLC has scheduled an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting for 9:00 AM on Tuesday to decide on further steps should the Federal Government fail to release Ajaero within the stipulated time.
Labor Union Condemns Arrest
Following an emergency meeting of its National Administrative Council (NAC), the NLC strongly condemned Ajaero's arrest, describing it as an act of intimidation and a violation of workers' rights. In a communiqué signed by the NLC Deputy President, Prince Adewale Adeyanju, the union highlighted that Ajaero was performing his lawful duties, representing Nigerian workers at an international conference on workers' rights and social justice in the UK.
“The National Administrative Council unequivocally condemns the brazen and illegal detention of Comrade Joe Ajaero by the Nigerian State without any legal warrant or justification. Comrade Ajaero was lawfully discharging his duties to represent Nigerian workers and had not committed any offense warranting such action,” the statement declared.
Additional Demands
Beyond Ajaero’s release, the NLC has called for the reversal of the recent hike in petrol prices, which currently stands at N617 per liter. The labor union argues that the increase has exacerbated the already difficult economic conditions faced by Nigerian workers, describing the arrest of its president as a direct provocation.
The NLC further criticized the government's actions as an attempt to undermine the implementation of the new National Minimum Wage, stating that such moves threaten the welfare of Nigerian workers.
A Call to Action
In its communiqué, the NLC declared that the detention of its president is not only an affront to its leadership but also an attack on the rights of all Nigerian workers to organize and express themselves freely. The union warned that it would not be intimidated by what it termed “the forces of retrogression,” urging its affiliates, state councils, civil society allies, and the general public to remain on high alert.
“The detention of Comrade Ajaero is an attack not just on the NLC leadership but on the rights of all workers and citizens to organize, protest, and express themselves freely. The Congress will not stand by while these rights are trampled upon,” the statement emphasized.
Awaiting a Decisive Response
As the scheduled emergency NEC meeting draws closer, all eyes are on the outcome. The NLC has vowed to take decisive action to defend the rights of Nigerian workers and oppose any form of oppression. In its concluding remarks, the NLC warned the government to reverse what it described as “a dangerous trend of authoritarianism and lawlessness.”
“NAC urges the Nigerian government to reverse this dangerous trend of authoritarianism and lawlessness, which threatens the country’s democratic fabric. The NLC will not waver in its duty to protect the rights of workers and the freedom of all Nigerians,” the communiqué concluded.
With the standoff escalating, the outcome of the NLC’s emergency meeting is expected to shape the future of labor-government relations in the country
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