By Olusegun Olanrewaju and Cross Udo
After initial apprehension expressed by Nigeria Labour Congress over its President, Joe Ajaero’s whereabouts due to his arrest by security agents at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport in Abuja, the Department of State Service has reportedly granted administrative bail to the labour leader yesterday.
Pro-democracy activist and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, later announced his release in a tweet yesterday.
Earlier in the day, the NLC issued a communique signed by the Congress’ Deputy President, Adeyanju Adewale, at the end of a National Administrative Council (NAC) meeting demanding the immediate release of its president.
However, despite this and other high-wire manoeuvrings trailing the arrest, the Department of State Services (DSS) had initially feigned ignorance over the alleged arrest of the NLC president.
Speculations are, however, rife that the labour leader’s trouble started as a result of ‘wilful disobedience’ to respond to an invitation by the undercover security agency, allegedly triggered by a petition from some forces within the leadership of the NLC itself that allegedly bothers on insecurity.
The NLC statement, “Comrade Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has been detained by the Nigerian government,” noted that the Congress’s organs have convened a closed-door meeting whose outcome will be available to the public.
In its statement yesterday, the labour union asked those it accused of holding its President to release him immediately before Monday midnight and vowed not to be cowed by government agents.
These, among others, were contained in the communique issued at the end of the emergency National Administrative Council (NAC) meeting and signed by Comrade Prince Adeyanju Adewale, the Deputy President.
The communique read: “The National Administrative Council (NAC) of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) convened an emergency meeting today to address the alarming and unlawful arrest and detention of Comrade Joe Ajaero, President of the NLC, by agents of the Nigerian government.
The Labour centre said, “This morning, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, was seized and whisked away by agents of the Nigerian State while on his way to the United Kingdom on the invitation of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Britain.
“Comrade Ajaero was set to attend and address the global gathering of workers on behalf of Nigerian workers at the Congress of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in the UK, a platform where critical discussions on workers’ rights, social justice, and economic fairness are discussed.
“We are yet to ascertain his whereabouts or state of health, as all our efforts to contact him have proved abortive.
“We wish to categorically state that Comrade Ajaero has been detained without any legal warrant or formal instrument. Joe Ajaero is not a fugitive.”
The NLC added, “His detention is, therefore, a brazen act of lawlessness and intimidation as he has not been declared wanted by any law enforcement body.
“His detention is a brazen act of intimidation and completely unjustified under the laws of our nation. The mere contemplation of stopping a lawful citizen from travelling and sequestering his freedom is an affront to our democratic and natural rights as a people and as workers.
“This is an unmistakable demonstration of the height of lawlessness being perpetuated by the Nigerian government and its agencies in their bid to silence every voice of dissent and opposition in the country as the government’s economic policies continue to afflict the people with monumental suffering and hardship.”
According to NLC, “Such actions are not only undemocratic, but immoral, as well as a direct affront to the fundamental rights of citizens and organisations to express their views and carry out their activities lawfully.
“In light of this troubling development, the Congress puts all its affiliates, State Councils, Civil Society allies, and all patriotic Nigerians on the highest state of alert.
“The Congress will not stand idly by while the rights of its leaders and members are trampled upon. Accordingly, we demand the immediate and unconditional release of Comrade Joe Ajaero.
“Furthermore, we call on the international community, human rights organisations, and all democracy advocates to take note of this rising wave of authoritarianism in Nigeria.
The world must witness these assaults on human dignity, civil liberties, and the rule of law.”
The statement added, “The NLC remains resolute in its commitment to protecting workers’ rights and will not be cowed by the oppressive tactics of the state.
“Once again, we demand the immediate and unconditional release of Comrade Joe Ajaero and the cessation of all forms of harassment against labour leaders and the Nigerian working class including innocent citizens who hold dissenting opinions.
“We equally demand that the state frees all Nigerians languishing in various prisons around the country for exercising their democratic rights to protest in the #EndBadGovernance rallies around the country.”
It concluded, “Finally, the Organs of the Congress are in a closed-door meeting whose outcome will be made available to the public.”
*NLC conveys emergency meeting, says its President’s whereabouts unknown
After extensive deliberation, the NLC NAC announced its resolution as follows:
“Condemnation of the detention: The Council unequivocally condemns the brazen and illegal detention of Comrade Joe Ajaero by the Nigerian State without any legal warrant or justification.
“The NLC notes with grave concern that Comrade Ajaero was lawfully discharging his duties to represent Nigerian workers and had not committed any offense warranting such action. His detention is an affront to the rights of workers and the democratic principles of freedom of movement and expression.
“Demand for Immediate and Unconditional Release: The NLC demands the immediate and unconditional release of Comrade Joe Ajaero before midnight today (yesterday).
“The Council reiterates that Joe Ajaero is not a fugitive or a criminal, and his detention is an act of intimidation aimed at silencing dissent and stifling the labour movement’s voice in Nigeria.
“NAC also demands the immediate reversal of the current hike in the price of petrol to N617/Litre.
“State of Alert: The Congress places all its affiliates, State Councils, Civil Society allies, and the Nigerian populace on red 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 NLC will not stand by while these rights are trampled upon. This provocation is another attempt by the state to scuttle the new National Minimum Wage implementation.
*Mobilises for action
The NLC also reaffirmed its commitment to defending the rights of Nigerian workers and citizens.
It announced that it will not relent in its efforts to oppose all forms of oppression.
“NAC-in-session, therefore, summons an emergency meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC) by 9am tomorrow (today), the 10th day of September 2024, to take a compelling action to engage the current forces of regression.
“The NAC urges the Nigerian Government to reverse this dangerous trend of authoritarianism and lawlessness, which threatens the country’s democratic fabric.
“NAC-in-session demands the immediate implementation of the New National Minimum Wage, which has been signed into law.
“The Nigeria Labour Congress will not waver in its duty to protect the rights of workers and the freedom of all Nigerians.”
*TUC insists on unconditional release
Meanwhile, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) has condemned Ajaero’s arrest and detention, saying that the arrest sets a dangerous precedent that threatens not only the leadership of the Nigerian labour movement but also the voices of millions of working-class Nigerians who rely on unions to represent and protect their interests.
In a statement issued by its President, Festus Osifo, the TUC called for the immediate release of the NLC president.
Osifo said, “The TUC has received with grave concern the news of the arrest of the President of the 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 labour 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 labour movement has always stood for peaceful negotiations.
“We urge the Nigerian government to prioritise 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.”
*Stop arbitrary detentions, HURIWA, SERAP tell Tinubu
In their separate responses, two NGOs, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) and the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), yesterday condemned what they consider an insult and assault on human and workers’ rights in Nigeria.
They described it as an arbitrary and illegal arrest, the detention of the NLC President by the security forces.
HURIWA told President Tinubu that trade unionism, human rights activism, and journalism are not criminal but that their members are integral stakeholders who sustain constitutional democracy.
The group is asking the current administration to play the game of governance by the rules and the ground norm, as well as end the regime of arbitrariness, illegal detentions, and unconstitutional harassment of media practices, rights activists, and trade union figures such as the Ajaero “by armed goons who are directly under the command and control of the President, and the commander-in-chief of the armed forces.
The group argued that the Nigerian President, elected under the 1999 constitution, “must know that Nigeria is a constitutional democracy, and his office is not the same as the tyranny that plays out in China, which recently hosted the Nigerian and African presidents.
It added, “Rather, under the Nigerian Constitution, the people are the owners of Nigeria’s sovereignty, whereas the elected politicians are only exercising power legitimately through the donations of legitimacy made to them by the people of Nigeria through a democratic election for specified tenure.
HURIWA further asked the leaders of the respectable and influential international community, such as the President of the United States of America, Mr. Joe Biden, the Prime Minister of Britain, Mr. Keir Starmer, the PM of Canada, Mr. Justin Trudeau, as well as the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Antonio Guiterres, “to intervene in the rapidly deteriorating democratic standards in Nigeria under president Bola Tinubu, and to stop him from destroying democratic freedoms in his attempt to establish dictatorship and tyranny in Nigeria, which violates the sanctity of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria of 1999, as amended, which the current administration swore to uphold.”
In a statement by the National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA condemned the action of the security forces to constantly harass and arrest vital human rights, media, and trade union figures.
The group added, “We are by this statement calling for the immediate cessation of all kinds of coordinated attacks targeting the NLC, human rights campaigners, and media practitioners by this administration to protect and preserve constitutional principles in Nigeria.”
HURIWA recalled that the Department of the State Services (DSS) operatives had arrested the NLC President, Ajaero.
It also recalled that Ajaero was arrested yesterday morning at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on his way to the United Kingdom for an official assignment.
Similarly, a transparency and public accountability group, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), has urged President Tinubu to immediately direct the DSS to end the intimidation, harassment, and attack against its organisation and the threat of arrest against directors.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State chapter of NLC has called for the DSS to release the National President of NLC, Joe Ajaero immediately, and to stop harassing and witch-hunting the labour leadership at all levels immediately.
Some officers from the DSS invaded the Abuja office of SERAP yesterday. “A tall, large, dark-skinned woman entered our office, accompanied by a slim, dark-skinned man.
“Other officers were sighted in two unmarked vehicles stationed outside our office. The officers who interrogated our office requested to see our directors,” the organisation claimed.
The invasion of SERAP’s office followed a call on President Tinubu and his government to direct the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to immediately reverse the illegal and unconstitutional increase in the pump price of petrol and to ensure the prompt and thorough investigation of alleged corruption and mismanagement in the NNPC.
In a statement yesterday, SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, said: “We condemn the invasion of our Abuja office today by DSS.
“The Tinubu administration must immediately direct the DSS to end the intimidation and harassment of SERAP and our staff members.”
Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, said: “We condemn the invasion of SERAP’s office.
“The Tinubu government must urgently fish out the officers who invaded SERAP’s office in the name of the government.
“Anyone found to be responsible for the invasion must be prosecuted.
“The government must allow human rights defenders to freely carry out their work, consistent with the Nigerian Constitution.”
The SERAP’s statement read in part: “The invasion of SERAP’s office by the DSS and the harassment and intimidation of our staff members is a brutal assault on the entire human rights community in the country.
“The escalating crackdown on human rights, and harassment and intimidation of NGOs and human rights defenders that have shown astonishing courage in their human rights work hurt those most in need, undermine access of Nigerian victims of human rights violations and abuses to justice, and contribute to a culture of impunity of perpetrators.
“This government must support and protect civil society groups and human rights defenders.
“We are seriously concerned about the growing restrictions on civic space and the brutal crackdown on the human rights of Nigerians.
“President Tinubu must urgently instruct appropriate authorities to promptly and thoroughly investigate the invasion of our offices and to bring to justice those involved.
“Nigerian authorities must allow SERAP to freely carry out our mandates as recognised under the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights to which Nigeria is a state party.
“Nigerian authorities must end the harassment and intimidation attacks against SERAP and ensure the safety and security of our staff.”
The group added, “If the Tinubu government does not take all necessary measures to immediately end the intimidation and harassment of SERAP or any other civil society groups for that matter, SERAP will take appropriate legal action nationally and internationally to challenge the brutal crackdown and hold the authorities to account for their constitutional and international human rights obligations.
“SERAP will continue to work to challenge any attempt to restrict, silence, or eliminate the voices of credible civil society in the country.
“We urge the presidency to speak out strongly against intimidation and harassment of SERAP and our staff.
“Under the Constitution of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and international human rights law, everyone whose rights are violated is entitled to a right to an effective remedy. Exposing human rights violations and seeking redress largely depends on the degree of security enjoyed by civil society groups and human rights defenders.”
*Warning on mass resistance, civil disobedience
The United Action Front of Civil Society has condemned what it described as the ‘abduction’ of Ajaero, saying that the action of the Department of State Service (DSS) may lead to mass resistance and civil disobedience in the country if he is not released immediately.
The group also frowned at what it called “the needless show of force” by the DSS in abducting the NLC President in a Gestapo manner at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
In a statement issued yesterday in Abuja signed by its spokesperson Hamisu Santuraki, the United Action Front of Civil Society called on its allies nationwide to immediately commence national consultations on how best to halt the alleged growing police state in Nigeria as evidenced by the massive repression of civil and democracy space by state agent in Nigeria.
The statement read, “We wish to state that the DSS has for no reason broken the civil and conventional practice earlier adopted by the police as touching security issues with well-known high profile citizens and leaders of the people like the President of the NLC by extending invitations to them, rather than employing dehumanising tactics such as forceful abduction to embarrass and intimidate them like common criminals.
“Comrade Joe Ajaero is a massive leader of both the Labour movement and the masses of Nigeria, given his popular position as the President of the NLC. Therefore, he deserves to be treated with profound etiquette and courtesy.
“Consequently, security issues with him should be handled with due process and not in a rough manner displayed by security agents today capable of causing national chaos and anarchy.
“For us in the organised civil society and pro-democracy movement of Nigeria, the abduction of Ajaero today is bold and indecent on the part of Nigerian security operatives and should be condemned by all Nigerians.
“We, therefore, wish to unequivocally condemn this needless rascality employed by the DSS today against the President of the NLC, which has already generated shockwaves through the length and breadth of the country and may lead to mass resistance and civil disobedience in the country if Ajaero is not released immediately by the State
“Finally, as a major Pillar of the Labour and Civil Society Front, LCSFront, we wish to call on our allies nationwide to immediately commence national consultations on how best to halt the growing police State in Nigeria as evidenced by the massive repression of civil and democracy space by State Agent in Nigeria.”
